Key Takeaways:
A new poll reveals deep voter skepticism toward the cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence industries, even as affiliated super PACs deploy more than $100 million to influence the 2026 midterm elections and shape future U.S. regulation.
“People do not want AI companies to run them over culturally and economically. They don’t trust crypto,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a vocal proponent of AI regulation, told Politico, suggesting that the heavy spending could become a liability for candidates.
The survey, conducted for Politico by Public First in April, found that a 45 percent plurality of Americans believe investing in cryptocurrency is not worth the risk. It also showed 47 percent trust a traditional bank with their money more than a crypto platform, compared to just 9 percent who trust crypto platforms more. Meanwhile, pro-crypto super PAC Fairshake—backed by Coinbase and Ripple Labs—has already spent $28 million in competitive primary races. This follows a reported $40 million campaign by an affiliated PAC in 2024 to help defeat crypto critic Sen. Sherrod Brown in Ohio.
The spending highlights a growing chasm between public sentiment and the industries' political ambitions. The crypto sector is pushing for the passage of the CLARITY Act, a market structure bill pending in the Senate, while the AI industry aims to secure a single federal regulatory framework. Pro-AI PAC Leading the Future has raised over $75 million since August 2025 to support this goal. Yet, the poll shows that a 43 percent plurality of Americans think the risks of AI outweigh the benefits, and two-thirds support stricter government regulation of the technology.
For now, these industry PACs are largely unknown to voters. Just 3 percent of poll respondents had heard of Fairshake and 9 percent knew of Leading the Future. This low visibility may not last as spending ramps up ahead of the November elections. Former Ohio Rep. Jim Renacci warned that the source of the funds could become a significant problem for candidates, stating, “I do think if they see somebody is backed by crypto, that’s always going to be a problem.” The widespread distrust, which cuts across partisan lines, sets the stage for a potential voter backlash against candidates perceived as being too close to the nascent and controversial industries.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
