Ripple-backed PACs fuel record $189M crypto election spend

Ripple-backed PACs are driving record crypto election spending in the 2026 U.S. cycle. A Public Citizen report says crypto-linked groups have spent about $189M so far—already above 2024’s full-cycle pace—with the November vote still months away. The report estimates crypto firms account for ~37% of all tracked corporate political contributions this cycle. Fairshake is the biggest spender (>$82M). MAGA Inc. (largely supported by Crypto.com) has spent over $56M. Ripple-backed PACs and affiliated committees (Defend American Jobs, Protect Progress) have backing from Coinbase and Ripple, and filings cited a combined war chest of about $193M as of January. New in the latest reporting: voter salience is rising. A DCG–Harris Poll finds 40% of registered voters now see crypto as a major election issue (vs 20% in 2024). The push aligns with the CLARITY Act debate, as Coinbase, Ripple, and 200+ crypto organizations urge Senate leaders to schedule a vote. Galaxy Digital lowered its 2026 passage probability to 50% due to Senate scheduling constraints. For traders, this signals that “crypto policy” will likely stay a near-term narrative. However, the direct impact on token prices is expected to be second-order, with sentiment more likely to move around regulatory headlines than around spot fundamentals.