CryptoregulationPolicy Debates
As 2026 midterms near, Stand With Crypto zeroes in on state and federal races with new candidate survey
The political battlefield is being redrawn as Stand With Crypto, the increasingly influential advocacy group born from Coinbase's ecosystem, deploys its first major offensive for the 2026 midterms: a comprehensive candidate survey that will effectively serve as a loyalty litmus test on digital asset policy. This isn't just a passive poll; it's a strategic maneuver straight out of the modern campaign playbook, designed to identify allies, pressure the undecided, and isolate opponents before the real money starts flowing.Remember how EMILY's List revolutionized political fundraising for pro-choice Democratic women? Or the seismic impact the NRA's candidate scorecards had for decades? Stand With Crypto is executing a similar power play, leveraging its reported two-million-strong 'crypto army' to create a centralized vetting mechanism that will guide endorsements, volunteer efforts, and a war chest that could easily eclipse the $87 million the crypto industry funneled into the 2022 elections. The timing is impeccably strategic.With the political landscape still reeling from the landmark passage of the FIT21 crypto framework and a palpable shift in regulatory posture, the 2026 races represent the first real test of whether crypto can transition from a niche, often-misunderstood issue into a mainstream voting bloc capable of swinging tight congressional and state-level contests. The group's survey will likely drill down beyond vague promises of 'innovation,' demanding clear stances on specific legislative pain points: the treatment of cryptocurrencies as commodities versus securities, the boundaries of the SEC's jurisdictional reach, the tax treatment of staking rewards, and the creation of clear regulatory guardrails for stablecoins.This granular approach forces candidates to move beyond soundbites and commit to detailed policy positions, creating a public record that can be used to hold them accountable. The real intrigue lies in which races they target.Will they focus on key Senate committees like Banking and Finance, where a single vote can shape national policy? Or will they adopt a broader, grassroots strategy, pouring resources into state attorney general races, given that officials like New York's Letitia James have become formidable adversaries? The midterms are often a referendum on the sitting president's party, and if crypto can successfully position itself as a non-partisan issue of economic opportunity and technological sovereignty, it could create strange bedfellows, uniting libertarian-leaning Republicans with progressive Democrats from tech hubs. However, the strategy is not without its perils.Over-playing their hand could spark a backlash, painting the industry as a new breed of political bogeyman trying to buy influence. The opposition is already organizing, with well-funded consumer protection groups and traditional finance lobbyists ready to amplify any misstep. The coming months will be a masterclass in political jujitsu, as Stand With Crypto attempts to convert its online community into offline political power, proving that in the high-stakes game of American politics, a new kind of currency is vying for dominance.
#Stand With Crypto
#2026 midterms
#candidate survey
#crypto advocacy
#elections
#regulation
#featured
