Crypto super PAC Fairshake plans to spend $30 million opposing former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown's challenge against Republican Senator Jon Husted in Ohio, an announcement that comes days after the Senate blocked the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act.
Brown, who previously served as chair of the Senate Banking Committee, is running in a race that could influence control of the Senate. Husted, a former Ohio lieutenant governor, was appointed to the Senate in January 2025 following JD Vance's appointment as vice president.
This marks the second major campaign against Brown by Fairshake. In 2024, the group spent approximately $40 million supporting Republican Bernie Moreno's unsuccessful bid to unseat the incumbent senator.
The spending announcement follows the Senate's 49-50 vote against advancing the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which would have established federal rules for cryptocurrency markets and divided regulatory oversight between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The measure required 60 votes to proceed.
All present Democrats voted against cloture, joined by Republican Senators Susan Collins, Josh Hawley, and Jerry Moran. Republican Senator Thom Tillis changed his vote to no for procedural reasons, preserving the option to reintroduce the bill later.
Fairshake, funded primarily by Coinbase, Ripple, and Andreessen Horowitz, had raised $116 million for the 2026 elections by January 2025 and reported $108 million remaining at the end of August. The group says it supports candidates from both parties who favor crypto-friendly policies, though its advertising often focuses on broader issues.
