Defend American Jobs and Other Crypto PACs Support Pro-Crypto Republicans
A network of cryptocurrency-funded Super PACs is backing two Republican candidates in Florida’s upcoming special elections for the U.S. House of Representatives, according to a March 21 report by Politico. The PACs — Fairshake, Defend American Jobs, and Protect Progress — are expected to play a key role in supporting Randy Fine and Jimmy Patronis, two candidates who have openly embraced cryptocurrency innovation.
The special elections, scheduled for April 1, will fill two of the four current vacancies in the House of Representatives. With a slim Republican majority, the outcomes could significantly impact the balance of power in Congress.
$1.2 Million in Ad Spending for Randy Fine
Defend American Jobs has already launched a $1.2 million ad campaign in support of Florida State Senator Randy Fine, who is running to fill the seat vacated by former Representative Michael Waltz, now serving as President Donald Trump’s national security adviser.
Fine has been a vocal proponent of blockchain innovation, posting on X (formerly Twitter) in January: “Floridians want crypto innovation!” He also stressed the importance of establishing “clear rules of the road” for the crypto industry.
Jimmy Patronis Also Receives Backing
The PAC is also spending $345,000 to support Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, who is seeking to replace Matt Gaetz, the former Congressman who briefly accepted — and later withdrew from — a nomination to become U.S. Attorney General under Trump.
As Florida’s CFO, Patronis has pushed for digital asset integration into public finance. In 2023, he wrote to the State Board of Administration requesting a report on whether part of the state’s retirement fund could be allocated to cryptocurrency investments.
Crypto PAC Influence Growing
Defend American Jobs, which previously supported both Fine and Patronis during the primary elections earlier this year, is part of a growing movement within the crypto industry to support candidates sympathetic to digital assets.
According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings, Defend American Jobs spent over $500,000 supporting Fine and $200,000 for Patronis in the primaries, helping both candidates win nominations in Florida’s 6th and 1st congressional districts, respectively.
While Fairshake is one of the most prominent crypto PACs and tends to support candidates across party lines, Defend American Jobs focuses almost exclusively on Republican candidates. According to data from OpenSecrets, the PAC raised and spent approximately $60 million between 2023 and 2024, and is based in Alexandria, Virginia, with a policy focus on securities, investments, and crypto regulation.
Tight Race Could Swing House Control
With only a handful of seats determining the balance of power in the House, the April 1 special elections are drawing national attention. If Democrats manage to sweep all four open seats — including the two in Florida — they could reduce the GOP’s majority to a single vote.
As the crypto industry continues to seek regulatory clarity and favorable legislation at the federal level, its growing political engagement via PACs like Defend American Jobs may significantly shape the composition of the next Congress.
The Florida races will serve as an important test of how much influence crypto-aligned political spending can have on shaping public policy — and who gets to write the rules for the future of digital finance in the United States.
