Americans Distrust Crypto, AI as Industry Super PACs Flood Midterms, Poll Finds

Why It Matters

Heavy industry spending clashes with widespread distrust, risking electoral losses for candidates and prompting calls for tighter regulation of AI and crypto lobbying.

Key Takeaways

• 45% deem crypto investing too risky
• 44% say AI development is too fast
• Leading the Future raised $75 M for AI candidates
• Fairshake spent $28 M supporting crypto‑friendly candidates

Pulse Analysis

The April poll commissioned by Public First for Politico underscores a growing skepticism toward two of the most hyped technology sectors. Nearly half of respondents consider crypto investments unsafe, while a comparable share worries that AI is advancing faster than society can manage. Trust in traditional banks remains higher than in crypto platforms, and a clear majority wants Congress to impose stricter AI oversight. These attitudes reflect broader concerns about volatility, data privacy, and the opaque influence of tech money on politics.

Against this backdrop, industry‑backed super PACs are quietly shaping the 2026 midterm landscape. Leading the Future, an AI‑focused super PAC launched in August 2025, has raised over $75 million and is active in swing‑state primaries such as North Carolina, Texas, Illinois and New York. On the crypto side, Fairshake, backed by Coinbase, Andreessen Horowitz and Ripple Labs, has already deployed $28 million in competitive races and previously spent more than $40 million to defeat a crypto‑critical senator in Ohio. While these funds amplify candidate visibility, the low name‑recognition—only 9% for Leading the Future and 3% for Fairshake—means many voters remain unaware of the source of the money.

The convergence of high‑stakes spending and deep‑seated distrust sets the stage for a potential voter backlash. Political observers warn that once voters link candidates to crypto or AI backers, the association could become a liability, especially in districts where regulatory concerns dominate. Moreover, the poll’s finding that two‑thirds of Americans favor stricter AI regulation may embolden lawmakers to tighten oversight, further constraining industry lobbying. As the midterms approach, both sectors must weigh the benefits of aggressive political investment against the risk of alienating an electorate that remains wary of their rapid growth and influence.