Crypto-aligned political committees have reported $52. 6 million in spending to support Republican Sen.
The escalation follows an earlier $11. 4 million round of Defend American Jobs advertising reported in late September. Fairshake’s network is largely funded by Coinbase, Ripple Labs and other major industry backers, and has said it intends to support candidates favorable to cryptocurrency policy in the 2026 elections.
Brown addressed the advertising in an interview broadcast Friday, saying his record of challenging Wall Street, pharmaceutical companies and oil companies had made him a target. He characterized Husted as the crypto industry’s preferred candidate and said the groups were spending tens of millions of dollars to defeat him. Husted’s campaign previously said Brown faced an onslaught of advertising and noted that Ohio voters had rejected him in 2024.
Brown had chaired the Senate Banking Committee and frequently challenged cryptocurrency-related legislation and policies during his Senate tenure.
Fairshake’s Ohio operation expanded after Senate Democrats helped block the CLARITY Act, legislation intended to establish a federal regulatory framework for digital assets. The organization reported about $120 million in cash on hand at the end of August and has also designated support for 32 House candidates from both parties, including six lawmakers slated to receive $1 million each.
Ohio’s contest is already the most expensive Senate advertising battle of the 2026 cycle. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3, leaving the campaigns and outside committees in the final weeks of spending and voting.