Author
Sujha Sundararajan
Author
Sujha Sundararajan
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Pro-XRP lawyer John Deaton has launched a campaign on Monday to run for the U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts again. He previously failed to unseat industry critic Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
The attorney known for filing amicus briefs supporting crypto firms in legal battles against the US SEC, declared his intention to run for the 2026 US Senate at a recent event in Worcester, Massachusetts.
“It’s time for leaders who know how to fight and deliver results. I’m running for the United States Senate to do just that,” Deaton posted on X, seeking contributions from the crypto industry.
This time, he will face off against Democrat Sen. Ed Markey, who introduced legislation in 2023 to crack down on crypto energy consumption.
John Deaton Had Well-Financed Campaigns – What About This Time?
The Crypto Twitter linchpin received national attention last year, running as a pro-crypto candidate against Warren. He ran a well-financed campaign till the end, but ultimately lost to Warren by nearly 20 points.
For instance, crypto-backed political action committee (PAC) invested $850,000 to bolster Deaton’s Massachusetts Senate primary in 2024.
Besides, Gemini’s Winklevoss Twins donated Deaton $500,000 each in Bitcoin to “unseat” Elizabeth Warren and “put an end to” her war on crypto. They called Deaton “pro-Bitcoin, pro-crypto, and pro-business candidate.”
While many crypto industry players oppose Markey due to his strong stance against the asset class, as well as voting against the GENUIS stablecoin bill, the aggressive pro-crypto Trump administration has calmed the industry this year. As a result, crypto is playing less of a visible role this time. Deaton’s recent campaign page does not mention pro-crypto policies if elected.
The website is open to donations in several cryptos, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP and memecoins like BONK and Dogecoin.
Massachusetts Struggles to Become Bitcoin-Friendly
The Bay State’s Bitcoin reserve bill encountered an early setback last month after state lawmakers remained silent, offering no responses on the proposal.
The bill, titled An Act Relative to a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve, was introduced by Republican State Senator Peter Durant.
Per Bitcoin Reserve Monitor, the tepid response has added Massachusetts to the growing list of delays.
Further, a town in South Hadley, Massachusetts, is considering a ban on crypto ATMs, citing concerns around fraud and money laundering.
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