Brief
Crypto‑aligned PACs spend $52 million to oppose Sherrod Brown in Ohio Senate race
Fairshake affiliate Defend American Jobs led the spending, while the Digital Freedom Fund added $3 million in the final weeks before the election.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Affiliates of the Fairshake political action committee, funded largely by Coinbase and Ripple Labs, have increased their Ohio Senate race spending to $52 million, according to Federal Election Commission filings released Thursday.
What happened
The Fairshake affiliate Defend American Jobs reported $46.6 million in media purchases aimed at opposing former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown and supporting Republican incumbent Jon Husted. The figure exceeds the $30 million the group said in September it initially planned to spend. In the same filing, the Digital Freedom Fund – a Super PAC created by Gemini co‑founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss – disclosed about $3 million in ad spending this week, bringing its total in the Ohio race to more than $5.9 million.
What the reports add
Cointelegraph notes that the $46.6 million represents a sharp rise over Fairshake’s 2024 effort, when the PAC spent $41 million supporting Republican Bernie Moreno and opposing Brown. The outlet also records that Defend American Jobs has spent $6.7 million to oppose Independent candidate Dan Osborn in Nebraska’s Senate race, highlighting the group’s broader midterm strategy.
What was said
Brown, speaking on the Pod Save America podcast, said, “I’ve spent my career taking on Wall Street, taking on big pharma, taking on big oil and been successful in many cases… Jon Husted is their boy… they spend literally tens and tens of millions of dollars,” as reported by Cointelegraph.
How it came about
Fairshake has publicly stated its goal to back pro‑crypto candidates in 2026, aiming to fill the next Congress with lawmakers supportive of industry‑favoured policies. The PAC reported in January that it held $193 million in cash, underscoring its capacity to influence multiple races as early voting begins in Ohio.
Key facts
- Defend American Jobs spent $46.6 million on ads opposing Sherrod Brown and supporting Jon Husted in Ohio. (cointelegraph.com)
- The Digital Freedom Fund added about $3 million in ad spending this week, totalizing over $5.9 million in the Ohio race. (cointelegraph.com)
- Fairshake’s total Ohio spending now exceeds $52 million, more than 50% above its September plan. (cointelegraph.com)
Sources
- [1] cointelegraph.com — originally reported as “Crypto-Aligned PACs Pour $52M into Opposing Sherrod Brown in Ohio”
