Crypto PAC spends $11M to oppose Sherrod Brown in Ohio

A crypto-aligned PAC reported spending $11.4 million on ads backing Republican Jon Husted and opposing Democrat Sherrod Brown in Ohio’s U.S. Senate contest, according to a Federal Election Commission filing. The Defend American Jobs PAC is affiliated with Fairshake, which had pledged an initial $30 million to media opposing Brown in the race.

By AI Newsroom· Reviewed by Pranav, Founder & Editor-in-ChiefPublished about 2 hours agoUpdated about 2 hours ago0 views

Crypto PAC spends $11M to oppose Sherrod Brown in Ohio

Why It Matters

The spending marks a continuation of sizable crypto-industry involvement in Ohio contests after outside groups poured hundreds of millions into the 2024 Senate race; such coordinated ad buys can influence high‑profile federal and state elections. The scale and timing of these expenditures are notable given Brown’s previous role as Senate Banking Committee chair and outspoken stance on crypto policy.

Key Facts

PAC name: Defend American Jobs PAC
Affiliated group: Fairshake (backed by Coinbase and Ripple Labs)
Amount reported spent: $11.4 million
Fairshake pledge: Initial $30 million in Ohio media opposing Sherrod Brown
Previous related 2024 spending: Outside groups spent more than $300 million in Ohio Senate race; Fairshake and affiliates spent about $41 million that cycle to oppose Brown and support Bernie Moreno.

A political action committee connected to the cryptocurrency industry disclosed more than $11 million in media buys supporting Republican Jon Husted and opposing Democrat Sherrod Brown in the Ohio U.S. Senate race, according to a Federal Election Commission filing. The filing shows the Defend American Jobs PAC — linked to Fairshake, which is backed by companies including Coinbase and Ripple Labs — reported $11.4 million in expenditures. Fairshake had previously pledged an initial $30 million for media aimed at blocking Brown’s return to the Senate. Brown, who once chaired the Senate Banking Committee, has been a vocal critic of some pro-crypto legislative proposals and policies. Cointelegraph reached out to Brown’s campaign but did not receive an immediate reply; Amy Natoce, a spokesperson for Husted’s campaign, said Ohio voters were seeing an “onslaught of ads” and asserted that “Ohioans already fired Sherrod Brown once.” The disclosure follows a contentious 2024 Ohio Senate contest in which outside groups spent more than $300 million, and Fairshake and its affiliates were reported to have spent about $41 million opposing Brown and supporting Republican Bernie Moreno. Moreno won that election with 50.2% of the vote to Brown’s 46.4%. In the current cycle, Husted occupies the seat after Governor Mike DeWine appointed him following the vacancy created when JD Vance was elected vice president in 2024. Crypto-industry political activity in Ohio extends beyond the Senate race. Vivek Ramaswamy, a former 2024 Republican presidential candidate and co-founder of asset manager Strive, secured the Republican nomination for Ohio governor in May 2026 and has received contributions from figures tied to crypto ventures. Donors to Ramaswamy include three co-founders of World Liberty Financial and large contributions through his PAC from financial-industry figures such as Susquehanna co-founder Jeff Yass and NYDIG founder Ross Stevens, according to reporting cited in the FEC-related coverage.