A Fairshake poll found that 45% of Americans describe cryptocurrencies as too risky with industry political action committees spending more than $100 million in the midterm elections.
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- A Public First poll conducted for Politico found that 45% of Americans say investing in cryptocurrencies is not worth the risk.
- The same poll found that 44% say AI is developing too quickly, and two-thirds want Congress to impose strict oversight on AI.
- Together, pro-crypto PAC Fairshake and pro-AI PAC Leading the Future have deployed more than $100 million in their 2026 midterm races.
An April 2026 Politico Public First poll showed that 45% of Americans say investing in cryptocurrencies is not worth the risk, even if the potential returns are high. The survey of 2,035 adults also found that 44% believe AI is developing too quickly, and nearly two-thirds want Congress to impose strict regulations or broad oversight of AI.
These results arrive as major industry-backed political action committees are pumping unprecedented sums into the 2026 midterm cycle. Fairshake, the pro-crypto political action committee Supported From Coinbase, Andreessen Horowitz, and Ripple, they spent nearly $28 million across competitive primaries.
The pro-AI group Driving the Future, which launched in August 2025, has raised more than $75 million and deployed money in races across North Carolina, Texas, Illinois and New York. Their combined spending exceeds $100 million.
Political responsibility is in the making
The survey found that in hypothetical matches, participants were much less likely to support candidates backed by groups that favor more flexible regulation of AI. Political observers told Politico that once voters tie campaign money to the industries behind it, backlash could be swift. “I think if they saw someone backed by cryptocurrency, that would always be an issue,” said Jim Renacci, a former Ohio state representative.
The disconnect between spending and public confidence becomes more acute in name recognition. Only 9% of respondents had heard of Future Leadership, and only 3% knew of Fairshake. The industry has financial strength that has not yet translated to the public legitimacy.
This gap is important because both Fairshake and the cryptocurrency industry’s primary legislative target, the Clarity Act, depend on the same Senate facing midterm exposure.
Such as crypto.news NotarizedIf Democrats control either chamber in November, the odds of passing the Clarity Act are described as close to zero. 45% voter distrust of cryptocurrencies makes the halving environment a risk That PAC spending alone can’t solve it.
