More than half of American voters distrust cryptocurrencies and AI… The 2026 midterm elections signal a warning for "money politics"

The United States’ “cryptocurrency” and “artificial intelligence” industries are injecting tens of millions of dollars into the 2026 midterm elections, but voters are largely indifferent to both sectors. Some analysts point out that deeper industry involvement in politics may actually trigger backlash.

According to Politico on the 13th (local time), a public opinion survey conducted by Public First in April showed that 45% of Americans believe that “cryptocurrency investments” are not worth the risk, and 44% think “artificial intelligence is developing too quickly.” Nearly half of respondents trust traditional banks more than “cryptocurrency platforms,” and two-thirds believe Congress should implement strong regulations or broad oversight principles for AI.

The survey sample consisted of 2,035 American adults, conducted online from April 11 to 14. The results were weighted based on factors such as age, race, gender, region, and education, with a margin of error of ±2.2 percentage points.

This atmosphere is interpreted as a signal that the political funding related to these industries may have limited effectiveness. The super PAC supporting AI, “Leading the Future,” has raised over $75 million since its establishment in August 2025 and has invested in primaries in North Carolina, Texas, Illinois, and New York. The super PAC supporting cryptocurrency, “Fairshake,” supported by Coinbase, Andreessen Horowitz, and Ripple Labs, has also invested $28 million in competitive primary races.

The influence of the industry is also reflected in lobbying expenditures. OpenAI and Anthropic set a record high for lobbying spending in the first quarter of 2026. The cryptocurrency industry is currently pushing the Senate to pass the “CLARITY Act,” aiming to establish a clear regulatory framework for digital assets.

However, the problem is that voter awareness lags far behind political funding. The survey found that only 9% of respondents had heard of “Leading the Future,” and just 3% knew about “Fairshake.” Politicians are concerned that although the vast majority of voters are unaware of these super PACs, widespread knowledge of industry funding could quickly generate negative sentiments.

In fact, former Ohio Republican Congressman Jim Renacci told Politico, “If someone gets support from cryptocurrency, that’s always an issue.” In 2024, the “Fairshake” related PAC also spent over $40 million to defeat Senator Sherrod Brown, who was critical of cryptocurrencies at the time.

On the other hand, with reports emerging that President Trump plans to attend meme coin events during related activities, the intersection of cryptocurrency and politics is expanding. However, the survey results show that industry funding may not directly translate into votes. On the eve of the 2026 midterm elections, the influence of “cryptocurrency” and “AI” in politics is growing, but if public trust does not keep pace, they could become liabilities.

Article summary by TokenPost.ai

🔎 Market interpretation American voters’ trust in the cryptocurrency and AI industries is less than their unease. Despite increased political funding, public awareness has not kept up, and the potential for backfire is rising.

💡 Strategic key points Relying solely on expanding political influence cannot guarantee votes; building trust is a critical variable. In particular, emphasizing “safety and responsibility” strategies is more necessary than highlighting deregulation messages.

📘 Terminology explanations Super PAC: Organizations that raise large sums of money from corporations and groups to support political activities CLARITY Act: A U.S. bill aimed at clarifying the regulatory framework for digital assets Lobbying activities: Activities aimed at influencing policies or legislation targeting the political sphere

💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. Why are the cryptocurrency and AI industries spending money politically? The goal is to create a regulatory environment favorable to themselves by supporting political candidates and ensuring influence. This is especially important because it can significantly impact digital asset regulation or AI policy directions.
Q. Why do voters distrust cryptocurrencies and AI? Mainly due to the volatility and investment risks of cryptocurrencies, as well as concerns about AI’s rapid development and its social impacts. The lack of clear regulation also reduces trust.
Q. What impact might this have on the 2026 midterm elections? Candidates receiving industry funding may actually face voter backlash. If trust is not gained but funding continues to increase, it could become a political liability.

TP AI notes: This article is summarized using a language model based on TokenPost.ai. The main content may have omissions or factual inaccuracies.