Crypto companies have significantly increased their involvement in the US federal elections in 2024, contributing over $119 million so far, according to a Public Citizen report published on Aug. 21.
The report highlighted that this amount represents almost half of all corporate contributions in this election cycle, which currently total $248 million.
Surge in donations
The majority of this spending has been directed toward Fairshake PAC, a super PAC focused on supporting candidates favorable to crypto interests. It has raised $202.9 million this year, with over $107.9 million of its funding coming from major crypto firms such as Coinbase and Ripple.
This level of spending marks a notable shift in the landscape of corporate political contributions and is a first for the crypto industry. Koch Industries, a traditional powerhouse in political contributions, contributed $25 million in 2024 through its Americans for Prosperity Action PAC, but this amount is far surpassed by the contributions from the crypto sector.
According to the report, this increase in corporate election spending comes after the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which allowed corporations to spend unlimited amounts on elections, provided there is no direct coordination with candidates.
Since that ruling, corporate contributions have steadily grown, but the rapid rise of spending from the crypto sector in 2024 is particularly notable.
Based on the data since 2010, corporate contributions to super PACs totaled $313 million by 2020, while the crypto sector alone contributed $129 million in the past three election cycles — the vast majority of which has been donated this year.
Ripple effects
According to the report, the effects of this spending are already visible in several states, including Montana, where Senator Jon Tester supported pro-crypto legislation after crypto-backed super PACs indicated their interest in his race despite expressing skepticism about the sector previously.
Crypto-backed super PACs were involved in 46 primary races this year, with their preferred candidates winning in 36 instances. However, this surge in spending from the sector has also led to concerns regarding the legality of these contributions.
Consumer advocacy group Public Citizen has joined a complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission on Aug. 1, questioning whether contributions from Coinbase — a federal contractor — comply with existing anti- “pay-to-play” regulations.
The report added that increased spending by the crypto sector also raises questions about the broader implications for corporate influence in US elections. Should this trend continue, it could lead to other industries adopting similar strategies, potentially increasing the role of corporate contributions in shaping election outcomes.
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