Cryptocurrency PAC's Multi-Million Dollar Investment in Georgia Democrat Faces Primary Test
Protect Progress, a political action committee with ties to cryptocurrency advocacy groups, has poured over $4 million into supporting Georgia Democratic congressional candidate Jasmine Clark.
Protect Progress, a political action committee (PAC) with close ties to the cryptocurrency industry-supported Fairshake PAC, has invested upwards of $4 million in an effort to help a Georgia state representative win her campaign for a seat in the US House of Representatives.
Georgia residents will cast their ballots on Tuesday to select their preferred candidate in the primary election for the 13th Congressional district of the state, with state representative Jasmine Clark competing against other Democratic contenders. Federal Election Commission records indicate that Clark has received the benefit of over $4.2 million in media expenditures from the Protect Progress PAC in advance of the primary election, representing crypto-affiliated interest groups' efforts to shape voter decisions in critical electoral contests.
Interestingly, Clark seems to have removed a social media message from March stating that "digital assets are the future and provide long-overdue financial tools for unbanked communities," which made reference to US Congress deliberating on a crypto market structure bill. Additionally, she filled out a survey from Stand With Crypto, an organization aligned with Coinbase, which identified her as a candidate who "expressed strong support for establishing clear legislative and regulatory frameworks for digital assets in the United States."
Protect Progress along with its related organizations Fairshake and Defend American Jobs are anticipated to invest millions of dollars throughout 2026 to back candidates they believe will champion pro-crypto policies while working against those who won't. During 2024, Fairshake invested over $130 million on media and advertisements, leading to what Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong described as the "most pro-crypto Congress ever." Coinbase serves as a supporter of Fairshake.
However, not every electoral contest or party primary has resulted in success for Fairshake or cryptocurrency interest groups attempting to sway voters. The PAC reportedly invested $8 million to oppose Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton during her US Senate primary, yet in March over 40% of voters selected her over candidates backed by Fairshake and Protect Progress-sponsored advertisements.
"From a Stand With Crypto perspective, we are going to do everything we can to give our advocates the tools they need to make sure that they make an informed vote and they're able to cast their ballot on election day for the candidate that is pro-crypto they care about. If everyone makes their voices heard [...] we will have a more pro-crypto Congress than we did this past year."
Mason Lynaugh, executive director of Stand With Crypto
Cointelegraph reached out to Fairshake for commentary prior to Tuesday's voting but had not received an immediate response.
Texas run-off election also getting big spending
In the following week, voters within Texas' 18th Congressional District will visit polling stations to choose between Representative Al Green and Democratic challenger Christian Menefee. Protect Progress has reportedly invested over $1.5 million in opposing Green during a March primary, yet Menefee captured only 46% of voters in comparison to Green's 44%, resulting in a runoff scheduled for May 26.
Federal Election Commission documentation revealed Protect Progress invested over $2.8 million on media expenditures opposing Green, who during his time in Congress cast votes against legislation that the industry broadly favored, including the GENIUS Act and CLARITY Act. The PAC invested approximately the same amount in supporting Menefee, who has openly endorsed blockchain technology.