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Former Senator Sherrod Brown is running for reelection in 2026, having previously been elected to the Senate in 2006, 2012, and 2018, but having lost his seat to Republican Bernie Moreno in 2024.
However, Brown will once again have a battle on his hands - primarily from the Political Action Committee, Fairshake: a group of pro-cryptocurrency companies and individuals who recently announced they had a $141 war chest to help ensure the election of crypto-friendly candidates in elections across the country.
The Rise Of Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency has increased in prominence in politics as its popularity has risen in the rest of the world. Cryptos are commonly used in ecommerce and overseas transactions. They're also popular for fast, anonymous payments at gaming sites and crypto casinos, which offer the same range of games as traditional online sites, but, as well as fast payments, they also provide provably fair gaming thanks to blockchain's ledger of immutable records.
However, as take-up has increased, governments and official bodies have wrestled with how best to regulate crypto markets and, specifically, ensure the safety of crypto-using consumers. A lot of crypto companies want markets to remain open and light on regulation, to ensure blockchain and cryptocurrency innovation can continue unabated.
Senator Sherrod Brown's Crypto Position
On the other hand, politicians like Republican Senator Sherrod Brown have prioritized the protection of the public. While running for Senate in 2024, Brown attempted to block legislation that he said did not do enough to protect consumers. He made those moves in his role as the head of the Senate Banking Committee and amidst the backdrop of the collapse of the crypto marketplace FTX.
Brown isn't naturally opposed to the idea of cryptocurrency, in general. He said in a statement: "Cryptocurrency is a part of America's economy, and becoming more commonplace in Ohio and throughout the country.
"Just like what guides all my work, my goal is to make sure that as more people use cryptocurrency, it expands opportunity and lifts up Ohioans and they are not put at risk."
Super PAC Fairshake
Fairshake hasn't specifically pointed to Brown's bid for re-election, but it has said it intends to invest its sizeable fund to prevent anti-crypto politicians from being elected, regardless of party or political leanings. Fairshake has said it has a pot of $141m to aid its cause, which is substantially more than the $119m it had during the 2024 elections.
Ohio is holding a Senate special election on November 3, 2026. The election became necessary after Senator JD Vance was elected as Vice President in January 2025.
Fairshake is funded by various companies in the cryptocurrency industry. This includes major names like Andreessen Horowitz, Coinbase, Ripple, and Gemini. The group also enjoys donations from individuals, with the most prominent name being that of Robert Leshner. During the last round of elections, Ohio saw the largest of Fairshake's donations when they spent $40m to help secure Bernie Moreno's victory over Brown.