Crypto Super PAC With $140 Million Fund Poses Challenge to Sherrod Brown’s 2026 Senate Campaign

A well-financed crypto super PAC is preparing for another confrontation with former Senate Banking Committee chair Sherrod Brown, intensifying the competition for Ohio’s 2026 Senate election.

Key Takeaways:

• Fairshake invested over $40 million in 2024 to remove Sherrod Brown and has now accumulated $140 million for 2026.
• Brown’s previous opposition to pro-crypto legislation positions him as a key target for the PAC.
• His likely challenger, Republican Jon Husted, has a favorable stance on crypto.

Fairshake, a political action committee funded by prominent cryptocurrency entities such as Coinbase, Ripple, and venture capital powerhouse Andreessen Horowitz, allocated over $40 million in 2024 to assist in unseating Brown, who has been a vocal opponent of the sector.

This initiative, the PAC’s largest investment in a single race, successfully led to the election of Republican Bernie Moreno, a pro-crypto entrepreneur, thereby flipping a significant seat on the Banking Committee.

Fairshake Reloads With $140M to Target Sherrod Brown Again

Fairshake has replenished its resources with over $140 million and is indicating that Brown remains a target, as reported by Politico on Thursday.

“We will persist in supporting pro-crypto candidates and opposing anti-crypto candidates, both in Ohio and across the nation,” spokesperson Josh Vlasto reportedly stated to the outlet.

During Brown’s time as Banking Committee chair from 2021 to 2025, he was known for his opposition to legislation favorable to the industry, citing concerns regarding money laundering and illicit finance.

This position placed him at odds with an increasing number of Democrats who are becoming more receptive to crypto, creating a division that the industry leveraged in 2024.

The political landscape has evolved for 2026. Brown’s potential opponent, Republican incumbent Jon Husted, who was appointed to the Senate after JD Vance assumed the vice presidency, has generally shown support for the industry.

Fairshake PAChttps://t.co/j989tvaMmW
Donors:
-RIPPLE LABS INC – $45 Million
Brad Garlinghouse
-Senior Advisor at Silver Lake Partners (linked to Oracle through David Roux)
-Executive at AOL (Steve Kase, Revolution Group)
-Executive at Yahoo (Owned by Apollo Global… pic.twitter.com/a0BFZCajzl

— 7SEES (@7SEES_) July 15, 2025

Although Husted has not been vocal about specific crypto issues, his history in state office and recent votes align with pro-crypto viewpoints.

Brown’s attempt to return faces not only the challenge of a well-established incumbent but also uncertainties regarding his seniority if he makes a comeback.

Senate regulations would remove him from his previous Banking Committee leadership unless Democrats amend them, a potential point of contention given his strained rapport with the industry.

Despite his 2024 loss by over three percentage points, Brown remains the Democrats’ primary candidate to reclaim the Ohio seat.

He surpassed Kamala Harris by more than seven points in the state, even as crypto-backed expenditures provided a financial advantage to the GOP.

Fairshake PAC Backs Pro-Crypto Candidates

Established by several crypto firms in 2023, Fairshake “supports candidates dedicated to ensuring the United States remains the hub for innovators creating the next generation of the internet” while advocating for “a clearer regulatory and legal framework” for the blockchain industry.

Key contributors to Fairshake include venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, along with crypto leaders Coinbase and Ripple.

Coinbase recently donated $25 million, with Ripple Labs, Uniswap Labs, and crypto entrepreneur Robert Leshner also supporting the initiative.

Coinbase’s chief policy officer, Faryar Shirzad, stated that the company is dedicated to advocating for consumer protections and financial empowerment for digital asset holders.

“We are developing an aggressive, targeted strategy for next year to ensure that pro-crypto voices are amplified in crucial races nationwide,” Fairshake spokesperson Josh Vlasto remarked.

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