Bernie Sanders Escalates Attack on Crypto Lobby Machine

Sen. Bernie Sanders is stepping up his criticism of the cryptocurrency industry's lobbying push in Washington, arguing that the sector's growing influence is actively blocking meaningful regulation. The Vermont independent said the industry's spending on congressional relationships works against consumer protection and democratic accountability.

Sanders has not introduced any formal legislative proposal on crypto. No draft language, no co-sponsors, no committee filings. His current campaign is pressure-based: calling on fellow lawmakers to resist industry lobbying and keep public interest at the center of any eventual rules, he said.

The senator's critique fits a pattern he has hammered for decades. Wealthy industries pour money into Washington, shape policy to protect their interests, and leave ordinary consumers with less recourse, he argued. Crypto is just the newest and fastest-growing version of that problem, in his view.

Crypto's lobbying presence in Washington has expanded sharply. Exchanges, payment processors, and blockchain infrastructure firms have built government affairs teams or hired established lobbying shops. The money flowing into congressional relationships has grown alongside the industry's market cap, according to public disclosures.