Key facts
- Crypto industry spending on midterms reached $176 million across over 100 races.
- Only 13% of Americans prioritize candidate support for crypto and DeFi growth.
- 35% of Americans prioritize keeping fintech builders in the U.S.
- Republicans (45%) lead Democrats (30%) on prioritizing U.S. fintech innovation.
- Fairshake and affiliates spent $150.8 million of the industry's total outlay.
- 63% of voters want financial system upgrades against AI and cybercrime threats.
The crypto industry has invested approximately $176 million in over 100 midterm election races this cycle, according to a Reuters review. However, a survey by Ipsos for the DeFi Education Fund indicates that voter priorities lie elsewhere. Only 13% of Americans consider support for emerging financial technologies like blockchain and crypto to be very important. A broader pitch to encourage fintech innovation within the U.S. resonated more, with 35% of respondents rating it as very important. Republicans showed stronger support for this broader innovation pitch, with 45% compared to 30% of Democrats. The survey of 1,545 adults found that 63% of voters believe the financial system needs an upgrade to combat threats like AI and cybercrime, and 49% think the government should not dictate investment product choices. Super PAC Fairshake and its affiliates have been major spenders, accounting for about $150.8 million of the total industry outlay.