Crypto PACs increase spending against former Senator Sherrod Brown in Ohio

Cryptocurrency super PACs have escalated campaign spending against former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown in Ohio, according to recent filings with the Federal Election Commission. Decrypt and Cointelegraph both report that the Fairshake affiliate Defend American Jobs disclosed new media spending opposing Brown, bringing its total outlay in the race to more than 46 million dollars. Cointelegraph noted that at least two industry-aligned groups have directed more than 52 million dollars toward opposing Brown. [1][2]

Decrypt reported that an Oct. 15 filing showed Defend American Jobs disclosed a 5.2 million dollar media buy opposing Brown. Cointelegraph reported that the affiliate spent 46.6 million dollars on media targeting Brown, while also noting contributions from the Winklevoss Digital Freedom Fund. Cointelegraph added that Fairshake affiliates, largely funded by Coinbase and Ripple Labs, raised their initially announced expenditures by more than 50 percent. [1][2]

Fairshake is a political action committee funded by major cryptocurrency industry players including Coinbase, Ripple, and Andreessen Horowitz. As FTMQ Crypto reported earlier, the super PAC recently expanded its political map by committing initial funding to support 32 U.S. House candidates ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. [4][7]

Brown is an American politician who served as a U.S. senator from Ohio from 2007 to 2025 and previously chaired the Senate Banking Committee. The intense spending highlights the cryptocurrency industry's ongoing efforts to target prominent critics and influence market structure legislation in Congress. [1][5][7]