John Deaton, a prominent pro-XRP attorney and advocate for cryptocurrency, has officially announced his candidacy for the 2026 U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts. Deaton, running as a Republican, aims to challenge Democratic Sen. Ed Markey after gaining national recognition during his 2024 campaign against Elizabeth Warren, despite losing by nearly 20 points.
From Crypto Advocate to Political Challenger
Deaton, who first came into the limelight as an ardent supporter of cryptocurrency and XRP holders, seeks to leverage his growing influence in the crypto community alongside his blue-collar background. “I grew up with nothing, served in the Marines, and built a life and business here in Massachusetts through hard work,” Deaton shared on social media. “Families are struggling while career politicians like Ed Markey are absent and out of touch. It’s time for leaders who know how to fight.”
A Different Approach for the Crypto Industry
Unlike his previous Senate campaign that centered heavily on pro-crypto regulations, Deaton’s new website makes no mention of specific cryptocurrency policy plans. However, donations to his campaign can still be made in a wide variety of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and popular meme coins like Dogecoin and Peanut the Squirrel.
While Deaton’s odds against Sen. Markey remain slim—Massachusetts being a strongly Democratic state—he believes his accumulated name recognition and connections within the crypto industry could give him a fighting chance. His success may depend heavily on the support of crypto industry-backed political action committees (PACs), such as Fairshake, which opted not to support his 2024 bid. Their potential involvement for 2026 remains unclear.
A Changing Political Landscape
Deaton’s 2026 campaign unfolds under a different political climate. The second Trump administration’s pro-crypto policies have eased much of the industry’s existential concerns, and Sen. Markey does not pose the same direct challenge to crypto legislation as Elizabeth Warren. Nonetheless, Deaton has continued to advocate for Web3 innovation and digital asset adoption, signaling that the crypto industry can count on him as a vocal supporter.
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