A political action committee tied to the crypto sector has spent over $2 million in Michigan's 13th Congressional District race, according to recent Federal Election Commission reports. The PAC, Protect Progress, has heavily backed incumbent Democrat Shri Thanedar while actively opposing challenger Donavan McKinney ahead of the August 4 primary.
The latest disclosures reveal $884,240 funneled into ads supporting Thanedar, alongside more than $150,000 spent on negative campaigns targeting McKinney. This surge effectively doubled Protect Progress’s reported spending from just a week earlier, marking a significant outside influence on the race.
Protect Progress operates as a super PAC, meaning its funds are spent independently from direct candidate campaigns. It is affiliated with the Fairshake network, which has received substantial backing from major crypto companies including Coinbase and Ripple. The scale of its spending even eclipses the $1.23 million McKinney’s campaign has reported in total disbursements through mid-July, though the figures represent different reporting periods.
Thanedar’s Crypto-Friendly Record Earns Industry Support
Thanedar has gained favor within the crypto community by voting for legislation such as the GENIUS Act and the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which aim to establish clearer regulations and consumer protections for stablecoins and digital assets. In an official statement, Thanedar described these bills as important steps toward financial inclusion despite acknowledging room for improvement.
The high-profile crypto PAC spending in this race highlights the growing political muscle of blockchain industry players as they seek to influence policymaking in key districts across the country.
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