The Crypto PAC Fairshake has turned its attention to Sen. Sherrod Brown, committing $30 million to oppose him in Ohio. The senator’s race is now back at the center of the fight over the Clarity Act.
Senator Josh Hawley wants his party to move forward without Brown, after a vote on the Clarity Act failed to advance the bill. The measure would create federal rules for crypto markets and split oversight between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Brown faces Republican Sen. Jon Husted in a contest that could decide which party controls the Senate.
Fairshake’s Record
Fairshake spent roughly $40 million helping defeat Brown in 2024, and it has already raised $116 million for the 2026 elections by January 2025. It reported $108 million remaining at the end of August. The PAC is primarily funded by Coinbase, Ripple, and Andreessen Horowitz.
The PAC’s spending on Brown’s 2024 race was significant, and the new pledge of $30 million for 2026 shows the crypto industry is not backing down. Brown is seeking to win back his seat in Ohio after Husted was appointed to the Senate in January 2025 to replace JD Vance.
The Clarity Act Vote and Brown’s Campaign Response
Senators voted 50-49 against cloture on a motion to proceed to the bill, with that margin falling short of the threshold needed to advance it. Every Democrat present voted against advancing the measure, joined by Republican Sens. Susan Collins, Josh Hawley, and Jerry Moran. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis changed his vote to “no”, citing procedural reasons, to allow the bill to be reintroduced at a later date. The measure needed 60 votes to move forward.
The vote showed how closely the crypto industry tracks the political process. The failure to advance the legislation means the bill will not move before the November 3 midterms.
Fairshake’s announcement that it will spend $30 million opposing Brown in Ohio is a direct signal of what the industry wants from the Senate. The PAC’s funding from Coinbase, Ripple, and Andreessen Horowitz puts it at the center of the crypto lobbying effort.
Patrick Eisenhauer, Brown’s campaign manager, responded with a warning aimed at the PAC and its backers. “Of course the special interests are panicking, they know Sherrod will fight the rigged system they’re feasting on to stand up for working Ohioans,” he said.
The campaign’s framing of the PAC as a “special interest” is telling. Brown’s team is positioning the battle over the Clarity Act as a fight between ordinary Ohioans and wealthy corporate interests.
“Of course the special interests are panicking, they know Sherrod will fight the rigged system they’re feasting on to stand up for working Ohioans”
The Bottom Line
The Clarity Act’s failure is a setback for cryptocurrency supporters. But the PAC’s spending plan shows they are not giving up. By targeting Brown, they are betting that the race in Ohio will help shape the Senate’s approach to crypto regulation.
The PAC’s spending plan will likely shape the rest of the campaign. Brown’s team has set up the contest as a struggle between working Ohioans and corporate interests, and the PAC’s announcement provides a clear target for their efforts.
As November approaches, the race in Ohio will be watched closely. Brown’s ability to win back his seat will depend on how well he can hold his ground against Husted. Fairshake’s spending plan is a clear signal of where the fight is headed.
Key Numbers
- Fairshake pledges $30 million to oppose Brown in Ohio
- 2024 anti-Brown spending: roughly $40 million
- Clarity Act vote: 49-50, short of needed 60 votes
- PAC funding: Coinbase, Ripple, Andreessen Horowitz
- PAC raised: $116 million by January 2025, $108 million remaining at end of August
- Brown faces Republican Sen. Jon Husted in Ohio contest
Source material: “After Clarity Act Fails, Crypto Super PAC Fairshake Targets Sherrod Brown With $30 Million,” Decrypt.
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