Crypto-backed political action committees have poured more than $8 million into congressional primary contests in Maryland, New York, and Utah, according to filings with the U.S. Federal Election Commission. Much of the spending came from groups tied to Fairshake, one of the most active industry-backed PAC networks in the 2026 election cycle.
Protect Progress channels most of its money into Maryland and New York
Protect Progress, a Fairshake affiliate supporting Democratic candidates, made its largest investment in Maryland’s 5th Congressional District. FEC records show the group spent more than $5.5 million backing state Delegate Adrian Boafo in the Democratic primary. In New York’s 15th District, it reported more than $1.4 million in expenditures supporting incumbent Representative Ritchie Torres.
The PAC also put money into other races. It disclosed more than $516,000 in media spending to support April McClain Delaney, who is seeking the Democratic nomination in Maryland’s 6th Congressional District.
Spending also went toward attacks on rival candidates
FEC filings show the money was not limited to boosting preferred contenders. Protect Progress reported about $24,000 in advertising opposing Quincy Bareebe and another $74,000 in media spending targeting Harry Dunn, both of whom are competing against Boafo in Maryland.
That outside spending became a campaign issue in the closing stretch. In a joint statement released on June 15, Democratic candidates Harry Dunn, Quincy Bareebe, and Rushern Baker criticized what they described as the growing role of outside money in the race. They called on Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Senator Angela Alsobrooks, and Representative Steny Hoyer to say publicly whether they supported the millions of dollars spent by crypto industry donors and other outside groups backing Boafo.
Utah draws support as other crypto-aligned groups join in
Another Fairshake affiliate, Defend American Jobs, reported more than $400,000 in support of Republican Representative Blake Moore as he seeks renomination in Utah’s 2nd Congressional District.
The latest wave follows what a Fairshake spokesperson had previously described as the “biggest spend of the cycle” in Alabama’s Republican primary runoff. Campaign finance disclosures showed Fairshake-backed groups spent more than $12 million on advertising in that race before Republican Barry Moore won.
Colorado and Arizona are now in focus
Attention is already shifting to the next set of primaries. Campaign finance records reviewed Monday showed no major spending from Fairshake-linked groups in Colorado, where the congressional primary is scheduled for June 30, or in Arizona, where voters will head to the polls on July 21.
Past activity suggests both states could still attract crypto PAC money. During the 2024 election cycle, Fairshake and its affiliated committees spent more than $10 million supporting Ruben Gallego’s successful Senate campaign in Arizona. The organization also spent about $2.1 million backing Democratic Representative Yadira Caraveo in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District.
Separate disclosures point to activity from other crypto-aligned political groups as well. Fellowship PAC, backed by roughly $11 million in funding from Cantor Fitzgerald and Anchorage Digital, reported $300,000 in spending to support Torres in New York’s primary.
The current filings show crypto-backed political money remaining concentrated in closely contested congressional primaries where outside spending could carry weight.