Crypto voters face midterm test as close races put their influence in focus

Crypto voters could determine the outcome of tight races in the U.S. midterm elections, testing whether the constituency can sustain its turnout and help expand support for the industry in Congress.

In a November 3 interview with Bitcoin Magazine, Mason Lanaw, executive director of Stand with Crypto, said success would mean increasing the number of pro-crypto lawmakers and demonstrating that crypto advocates can make a difference in competitive districts. He said the group was working toward a Congress more receptive to Bitcoin and crypto.

Lanaw said the 2024 election established crypto holders as an electoral constituency, while the 2026 midterms would test their continued engagement. He said midterm participation had historically been lower among both the general population and crypto owners. Consistent turnout, he argued, would give lawmakers a reason to take the issue seriously when governing.

Stand with Crypto had run voter mobilization efforts through text messages and advertising for months, with advocates concentrating on volunteer work over the past month, Lanaw said. His measures of success included turnout and results in endorsed candidates’ races, alongside the proportion of Congress that supports crypto.

He pointed to Susie Lee’s district in Nevada as an example of the potential influence. Stand with Crypto had around 12,000 advocates there, compared with her previous election margin of 10,000 votes, he said. Even when affordability or housing ranks higher among voters’ concerns, crypto can still help distinguish a candidate and motivate participation in a close contest, he argued.

Asked which pro-crypto candidate’s defeat would represent the biggest loss, Lanaw declined to single out a race. He said lawmakers who had supported crypto legislation needed to see electoral benefits from engaging with the community, and that he wanted to expand the industry’s support in Congress.

Lanaw said the industry had allies in both parties. He highlighted Bernie Moreno’s blockchain entrepreneurial experience and legislative work as an example of leadership in the Senate. Continuing to explain the issue to lawmakers would be essential to broadening that support, he said.

He declined to predict the policy direction after the election. The immediate priority was mobilizing crypto voters, followed by educating incoming lawmakers who had little exposure to the technology or its community. Lanaw said that effort would focus on explaining why crypto matters to tens of millions of Americans and how it could benefit the wider population.