Crypto-backed political groups are escalating their spending in Ohio, pouring more than $52 million into ads opposing Democrat Sherrod Brown and backing Republican Jon Husted in a race that could shape control of Congress and the next round of US digital-asset policy.
Ohio crypto PACs spend $52 million on Brown race
The biggest driver is Fairshake affiliate Defend American Jobs, which told federal regulators it spent $46.6 million on media against Brown and for Husted, more than 50% above the $30 million it initially planned. A second crypto-aligned group, the Digital Freedom Fund backed by Gemini founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, added about $3 million this week, lifting its total Ohio spending to more than $5.9 million.
Sentiment Indicators
The heavy outlay underscores how central Brown remains to the industry’s lobbying fight. As chair of the Senate Banking Committee, Brown was one of the loudest critics of crypto-friendly legislation and rules, while Husted has been viewed as far more receptive to the sector’s priorities.
For investors, the spending is a reminder that the regulatory backdrop for Coinbase, Ripple and the broader crypto market is still being fought in the political arena as much as in the courts or at the SEC and CFTC. Fairshake has said it wants to fill the next Congress with pro-crypto lawmakers and reported $193 million in cash on hand in January, giving the industry plenty of firepower to target other races as well.
The Ohio campaign is already underway with early voting and less than three weeks before Election Day, and Fairshake is also spending in Nebraska against independent candidate Dan Osborn. Brown said in a podcast interview that the industry is spending “literally tens and tens of millions of dollars” because it sees Husted as “their guy” and wants to stop him from being held accountable.
The race now stands as an early test of whether crypto’s growing political spending can help lock in a more favorable Congress for digital-asset legislation in 2026.
| Entity | Gains | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| Fairshake / crypto PACs | ▲pro-crypto Congress | ▼Brown-aligned regulation |
| Jon Husted | ▲industry support | ▼anti-crypto attack ads |
| Sherrod Brown | ▲fundraising contrast | ▼ad barrage |
| Coinbase / Ripple Labs | ▲policy leverage | ▼higher political spending costs |
