Republicans Angered by Pro-Crypto PAC’s Heavy Investment in Senate Races

Pro-crypto political group Fairshake is investing heavily in Senate races to support Democrats, clashing with Republicans who expected full support.

Fairshake PAC, along with its super PAC, recently committed $3m to aid Democrats Ruben Gallego and Elissa Slotkin, aiming to influence Senate control this fall. The group highlighted that Slotkin and Gallego, despite past reservations, have earned an A-rating from Stand With Crypto for their support of a significant crypto legislation this year.

Still, the group also plans to allocate $12m to unseat Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, the chair of the influential Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Brown is seen as a crypto skeptic.

It comes as top Republicans work to forge stronger connections with the crypto industry in the face of a challenging regulatory landscape.

Crypto-backed super PAC Fairshake has raised more money than the largest Trump super PAC and just $14M less than the Trump campaign itself – it’s no wonder Trump suddenly loves crypto. pic.twitter.com/XzjVMbnd68

— Steven Rattner (@SteveRattner) August 8, 2024

NBC News reported Thursday that the group’s spending to support Democrats in other key races has frustrated some in the GOP. They caution that this move could undermine the group’s influence with Republicans after years of building strong relationships.

The Republican Party is appealing to the crypto community by promising lighter regulation, in contrast to the stricter approach taken by the Joe Biden administration.

At the same time, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has voiced strong support for cryptocurrencies, pledging to make the US the world’s crypto capital and to create a presidential advisory council dedicated to the crypto industry.