Crypto exchange Kraken pledged $2 million to two politically aligned groups as part of what it calls an ongoing battle to defend core crypto freedoms in the US.
In a Tuesday post on X, Kraken Co-CEO Arjun Sethi announced that the exchange will donate $1 million to the Freedom Fund PAC and increase its 2025 commitment to America First Digital to $1 million.
“The fight for crypto in the United States is far from over,” Sethi wrote. He warned that crypto’s foundational rights, like self-custody and decentralized access, remain under threat from “regulatory uncertainty,” bans on privacy tools and efforts to criminalize infrastructure.
“As one of the largest and longest-standing digital asset businesses in the US, Kraken believes it is critical to engage in public policy issues that directly impact our clients, employees, and the broader crypto community,” a Kraken spokesperson told Coinpectra.
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Crypto principles, not political parties
Sethi described the donations as “strategic investments in the legal and regulatory frameworks that will define crypto’s future,” adding that Kraken is “not backing a party” but supporting principles such as privacy, self-custody and innovation. However, both groups receiving Kraken’s donations are aligned with pro-Trump and Republican-led causes, with the Freedom Fund PAC having been described as a pro-Trump super PAC backing Republican candidates.
“Crypto is a non-partisan issue. Our support for the Digital Freedom Fund PAC and America First Digital reflects Kraken’s position as a single-issue donor: we will back candidates who advance pro-crypto policies and work toward a clear, effective regulatory framework,” the Kraken spokesperson added.
The donations came amid a shifting political landscape in Washington, where several market structure bills have advanced. In July, the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act passed with more than 300 House votes, including support from 102 Democrats.
In August, Senator Cynthia Lummis said that a digital asset market structure bill could reach President Donald Trump’s desk by the end of 2025, possibly before Thanksgiving.
The legislation will clarify the roles of the SEC and CFTC in regulating digital assets. Lummis said the Senate version will build on the CLARITY Act, which passed the House in July with bipartisan support, and likely serve as the base for the final bill.
“More than 50 million Americans own crypto, and the message from the 2024 elections was clear — policymakers must move beyond the status quo, remove failed leadership, and pass smart market structure legislation,” the Kraken spokesperson said.
Coinpectra reached out to Kraken for comment, but had not received a response by publication.
Related: Crypto-Backed Group Gathers $141M Funding to Influence US Elections
Fellowship PAC launches with $100 million
Crypto advocacy groups are intensifying efforts ahead of the 2026 legislative elections. Earlier this month, a new crypto-focused political action committee, Fellowship PAC, launched with over $100 million in funding to support pro-innovation, pro-crypto candidates in US federal elections.
Fellowship joins a growing list of crypto-backed political groups, including the Fairshake PAC, which spent over $130 million in 2024 on ads. In July, Fairshake reported holding $141 million in assets to be used to influence upcoming elections.
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