Crypto PAC drops $986K in Michigan primary backing Thanedar

A crypto-backed political action committee has spent nearly $1 million in Michigan's 13th Congressional District Democratic primary. Protect Progress, an affiliate of the Fairshake network, reported more than $986,000 in spending tied to Democratic Rep. Shri Thanedar and his challenger, Michigan state Rep. Donavan McKinney, according to Federal Election Commission filings published this week. The primary is scheduled for Aug. 4.

The spending includes advertising supporting Thanedar and opposing McKinney. Protect Progress took a similar approach during the 2024 election, when it spent more than $1 million supporting Thanedar before he won the Democratic primary with 54.9% of the vote. He later won the general election with 68.6%.

Thanedar has supported several crypto-related measures in Congress, including the CLARITY Act and the GENIUS Act. He also backed legislation aimed at promoting blockchain development. His voting record has placed him among lawmakers receiving support from crypto-aligned political groups.

McKinney has responded by making the outside spending part of his campaign message. He criticized the industry's financial support for his opponent. McKinney also accused Thanedar of supporting legislation backed by President Donald Trump and the crypto industry. The comments came as Fairshake-linked groups continued spending in Democratic and Republican congressional contests across the country.

The Michigan spending forms part of a wider campaign by crypto-backed PACs during the 2026 election cycle. Public Citizen estimated in June that the crypto industry had contributed about $189 million to the election cycle, exceeding its spending during the 2024 campaign, crypto.news reported.

Fairshake and its affiliated groups, Protect Progress and Defend American Jobs, have targeted candidates from both major parties based largely on their approach to digital asset policy. Recent reports put the network's available funds at roughly $191 million, giving the groups resources to enter additional races before the November midterms.

Fairshake-linked PACs spent more than $8 million across congressional primary contests in Maryland, New York and Utah in June. Protect Progress directed $5.5 million toward Maryland Democrat Adrian Boafo and more than $1.4 million toward New York Rep. Ritchie Torres. Boafo later won his Democratic primary, adding to a series of wins by candidates supported by crypto-funded political groups during the 2026 primary season, crypto.news reported.

The Michigan contest has also attracted attention beyond crypto policy. Thanedar faces one of the toughest primary challenges of his congressional career. McKinney has received support from progressive figures including Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Rashida Tlaib. Thanedar recently received endorsements from House Democratic leaders. Axios reported on July 22 that lawmakers in the party were paying close attention to the race, although some did not view a possible Thanedar defeat with the same concern seen in other contests involving progressive challengers.

Crypto-linked spending has added another issue to the campaign. Thanedar's campaign also reportedly invested about $3.7 million in crypto-related companies. It recorded losses exceeding $600,000 during the second quarter of 2026. The reported investments have received more scrutiny as Protect Progress increases its support for his reelection effort.

Protect Progress has also expanded its activity beyond Michigan. FEC filings show the PAC spent more than $100,000 supporting Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton in Arizona's 4th District. Stanton, who supported the CLARITY and GENIUS bills, won his July 21 Democratic primary against progressive challenger Kai Newkirk.

Defend American Jobs has spent more than $65,000 supporting Republican Amanda McKinney in Washington's 4th Congressional District, where voters will also hold their primary on Aug. 4. The seat is open after Rep. Dan Newhouse announced he would not seek reelection.

The latest spending comes as opposition to crypto-funded political activity also grows. Sanders recently pledged to challenge the political influence of the crypto industry while campaigning in Minnesota, focusing on campaign spending rather than digital assets themselves.