John Deaton, a pro-XRP attorney who lost his bid to unseat anti-crypto Senator Elizabeth Warren last year in Massachusetts, is now considering a second Senate campaign.
This time he wants to tangle with the state's three-term Junior Sen. Ed Markey.
The political hopeful—a self-identified pro-abortion independent who only recently allied himself with the Republican Party— believes he can use his newfound “name recognition” to launch a successful campaign against Markey, a beloved career politician with deep roots in New England. Deaton explained the challenge. DecryptIt will take a lot of convincing to get digital assets donors on board with a newcomer who is pro-crypto and running under a Republican banner in Massachusetts.
Deaton: “It’s an event I can win.”But, “it depends if the crypto industry has written off Massachusetts.” However, it depends on if Massachusetts’ crypto industry is no longer interested in the state.
Deaton, when asked which potential donors he’d like to attract during a future political campaign, named Club for Growth and Fairshake. Deaton said: “Obviously, big players,” as he put it.
The crypto-industry players emerged last year as the largest corporate donors The U.S. electoral cycle has a huge influence on the congressional elections across the nation.
Pro-crypto super PAC Fairshake’s $300 million blitz The organization has helped more than 400 digital assets industry supporters win congressional elections across the United States. The organization has grown since then. The company has received more than 100 million dollars in funding Midterm elections in 2026
Deaton could benefit from the support of Fairshake. Fairshake did not fund Deaton during the election cycle in 2024. The political candidate will need to show that he has the ability to get the votes in order to attract donors.
Deaton explained that no one wanted to give to an unprofitable cause.[Donors] “Data” means data.
Although midterm elections are more than a year away, Deaton is planning to launch an “all-issues” podcast on various kitchen-table topics within the next month—a move that could raise his profile among voters in Massachusetts. He also said that the former GOP candidate was exploring radio opportunities with Massachusetts stations. Decrypt.
“Politically speaking, [there’s this idea that] Deaton explained that a Republican would never be able to win, so they wouldn’t spend money with them. We could, however, win if “they all believe that I’m capable of victory and are willing to support it.”
A XRP attorney jumps in the political arena
Deaton entered the Bay State political scene in the last year. She was a 57-year old social media celebrity and XRP holder, who had nearly 400,000 followers. Her ambitions were to run against Senator Warren, a contest that many critics deemed as unwinnable.
Deaton said that Deaton “literally announced” her intention to run as a member of an anti-crypto Army. DecryptWarren has said that he “gaslighted” crypto-community.
It offended him, he replied. “So, I joined the race.”
Deaton, initially known by his Massachusetts Republican Party colleagues as “that weirdo crypto,” has nevertheless maintained his position. Claimed the Party’s Nomination Last fall, he ran for U.S. Senate. The campaign was funded by the $1 million loan he personally issued, as well as donations from more that half a dozen industry partners, including Gemini’s Tyler Winklevoss, Cameron Winklevoss.
Funds didn’t really make a big difference. Deaton remembered, “I was beaten.”
Deaton says he challenged Warren partly because exposing her view on digital assets, which he believes is out-of-touch with the times was crucial.
Deaton stated, “Nobody was going to beat her.” But, I did not want to give her a pass.
Pro Crypto Policy Advocacy
Deaton tell Decrypt Whether in the halls at Congress or on X, he will continue to speak out on important issues within and outside the crypto-community.
He emphasized the need for U.S. regulators to provide more protections and incentives for investors, while also supporting innovation in the United States. The crypto community must also focus on the “meat-and-potatoes” of the industry, like revamping the decades old securities laws, and pushing a crypto market structure bill to Congress. This is despite President Donald Trump’s executive orders that are reducing oversight.
Deaton was concerned that “we’re moving from one extreme into the other” in the U.S., regarding the regulatory environment. “I love the fact that the boot of the government is off the neck of the industry…let’s make sure that we don’t just go to the other extreme without any real legislation.”
Deaton has also expressed his opinion on the Official Trump coin, a Trump meme.
Deaton admitted, “I wasn’t really a big fan.”
He recalled that when it was launched “I literally put down my head.” It’s not an attractive look.
He said that, when asked about Layer-1’s blockchain Solana’s advertisement for the conference that invoked culture-war tropes on Crypto Twitter and that became an object of mockery earlier in this month, “I think technology needs to remain as neutral as it can and keep away from political issues.”
“For the last four years… the crypto industry has been fighting for its survival,” he added. The next four-years, we fight for our credibility.
James Rubin, Editor
