Crypto Firms Spend Nearly $189 Million in 2026 U.S. Election Cycle, OpenSecrets Says

Cryptocurrency companies, executives, and affiliated political action committees have spent almost $189 million so far in the 2026 U.S. election cycle, according to a report released by OpenSecrets.

“Cryptocurrency companies have become the single largest corporate political spenders in the United States, pouring $189 million into the 2026 midterm elections — more than they spent during the entire 2024 election cycle — according to a new report from the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen”

Bitcoin Magazine

The spending, tracked by OpenSecrets, includes contributions from crypto firms, industry executives, super PACs and other political groups supporting candidates viewed as favorable to digital asset regulation.

Bitcoin Magazine

OpenSecrets said the crypto spending surge has accelerated as lawmakers in Washington debate rules governing stablecoins, cryptocurrency exchanges, market structure and consumer protections.

The American Bazaar also reported that the $189 million figure covers spending reported through late June and is likely to increase substantially before voters head to the polls in November.

The report comes as Congress considers several crypto-related bills that could establish federal rules for stablecoin issuers and clarify oversight responsibilities between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, among other changes.

Public Citizen, as described by crypto.news, said crypto-related political spending has pushed beyond 2024 levels months before voters head to the polls, with crypto spending “about $189 million” and more than four months remaining before the November election.

crypto.news reported that Fairshake alone has spent more than $82 million during the current cycle, while MAGA Inc., a Super PAC largely backed by Crypto.com, has spent more than $56 million.

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The crypto.news account also said Public Citizen estimated that crypto companies account for roughly 37% of all corporate political contributions made during the 2026 election cycle.

In a separate framing, The Times of India said the report found crypto firms account for more than one-third of all corporate money contributed to this year's November elections and the primary contests leading up to them, making the sector the largest corporate political spender so far.

The Times of India quoted Rick Claypool, Research Director at Public Citizen and author of the report, saying, "The big takeaway is that corporate money is playing a bigger role than ever in our elections, and it's only expanding."

The political spending is tied to the CLARITY Act debate, with crypto.news saying the CLARITY Act remains under Senate consideration as supporters argue it would define oversight responsibilities for U.S. crypto markets.

“Source: Public Citizen Fairshake and its affiliates Defend American Jobs and Protect Progress are backed by cryptocurrency companies Coinbase and Ripple, and reported a $193 million war chest as of January”

Cointelegraph

crypto.news also reported that Galaxy Digital lowered its estimated probability of the CLARITY Act becoming law in 2026 to 50%, citing a tightening Senate calendar and limited floor time before the August recess.

The Times of India said Congress passed legislation establishing a federal framework for stablecoins, receiving bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, and that the sector is now pushing for the Clarity Act.

The Jerusalem Post described the same policy arc, saying the crypto industry won major public policy gains after its heavy spending in 2024, which ushered in a Congress ready to champion pro-crypto legislation, including a federal framework for dollar-pegged crypto tokens known as stablecoins.

In the Jerusalem Post’s account, Rick Claypool said, "The big takeaway is that corporate money is playing a bigger role than ever in our elections, and it's only expanding," as the report tracked spending by political action committees and highlighted Fairshake’s $82 million in donations this cycle.