- Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto arm, a16z Crypto, has donated $25 million to Fairshake before the U.S. elections.
- Chris Dixon announced that a16z Crypto’s contributions to political campaigns total $47 million.
- Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz contributed $22 million to Fairshake and associated PACs in 2023.
Andreessen Horowitz’s a16z Crypto boosts U.S. election influence with a $25 million donation to Fairshake, supporting pro-crypto candidates.
A16z Crypto Donates Millions to Political PACs
Chris Dixon, the founder and managing partner of a16z Crypto, revealed on Thursday that their firm has now donated $47 million to various political campaigns. “As an industry, we need to keep up the momentum and show that the US can lead in creating the next wave of blockchain innovation,” Dixon stated, emphasizing the strategic importance of these contributions. In 2023 alone, Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, founders of a16z, donated $19 million to Fairshake under their names, with an additional $3 million distributed among other associated PACs.
Crypto Firms Fund Pro-Blockchain Election Campaigns
The cryptocurrency exchange Ripple (XRP) is also making significant electoral contributions, announcing a $25 million donation to Fairshake on Wednesday. This follows their previous donation of $20 million in December 2023. Coinbase topped the contribution charts in 2023, donating $46.5 million, making it Fairshake’s largest contributor for that year.
These substantial contributions by leading crypto firms underline the increasing intersection of cryptocurrency interests with political lobbying. The funds primarily support candidates who advocate for blockchain and crypto-friendly regulations. Fairshake has spent over $11 million on federal election campaigns between January 2023 and April 2024, focusing on key races that could influence the crypto regulatory landscape.
Conclusion
Fairshake has played a pivotal role in several high-profile races, including the opposition to California Democrat Katie Porter’s U.S. Senate campaign. Porter lost in the March primary to Rep. Adam Schiff, who will face Republican Steve Garvey in November. Additionally, Fairshake supports incumbents such as Reps. Tom Emmer, Josh Gottheimer, and Dusty Johnson, all known for their positive stance on cryptocurrency.
