Crypto and artificial-intelligence super PACs are spending heavily in the 2026 midterm elections, even as surveys show that a majority of Americans view both industries with suspicion. The flood of money — drawn from well-funded advocacy groups and corporate treasuries — is reshaping races at the House and Senate levels, but it's running into a wall of voter skepticism that neither sector has managed to overcome.
Where the money's going
Super PACs backed by crypto exchanges, blockchain firms and AI startups have already poured tens of millions into primaries and general-election advertising this cycle. The spending targets aren't limited to one party: donors are backing candidates in both camps who support lighter regulation and faster adoption of digital assets and machine-learning tools. Some of the ads are positive, touting economic benefits. Others are attack spots aimed at lawmakers who've called for stricter oversight.
Federal Election Commission filings through the first quarter of 2026 show the total is on track to exceed the 2024 cycle's record. The money is concentrated in a handful of competitive districts and swing states where control of Congress could tip either way.
The trust gap
Polling conducted this spring tells a different story. Across multiple surveys, roughly six in ten registered voters say they do not trust the crypto industry to operate fairly or protect consumers. The numbers for AI are similar: a slim majority expresses doubt about the technology's safety and its impact on jobs and privacy. The disconnect between heavy spending and public wariness is striking. Campaign strategists inside both industries privately acknowledge that the money alone won't flip voters — but they argue that keeping friendly incumbents in office is the priority.
One pollster who has tested messaging on both issues said the ads haven't moved the needle on trust. “It's not that people are opposed to innovation,” the pollster noted in a briefing shared with clients. “They just don't believe these companies have their interests at heart.” (The pollster was not named in the briefing; the client list included two crypto PACs.)
Why the disconnect matters
The gap between donor enthusiasm and voter distrust creates a real risk for candidates who accept big PAC money. Opponents are already running ads tying incumbents to crypto crashes and AI bias scandals. In at least three House races, the link has become a central attack line. If turnout among skeptical voters is high, the strategy of outspending the other side could backfire.
Regulators are watching, too. The SEC and CFTC have both signaled they expect to ramp up enforcement after the election, regardless of which party controls Congress. Super PAC spending doesn't directly affect that timeline, but it does shape the political environment in which new rules are written.
Primary season heats up in June, and the major crypto and AI PACs have already reserved ad time through November. Whether the spending will translate into wins — or into more public backlash — is the open question. The polling numbers haven't budged all year, and neither has the checkbook.
