Political Donations

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong (CoinDesk screen grab, with permission of Coinbase)
Crypto Execs Give Washington Influence Another Go With FTX Anchor Around Necks
Without mentioning the sector’s disastrous 2022, including the wide-ranging crypto political donations that turned sour, the leaders of Coinbase and Messari are at it again.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong (CoinDesk screen grab, with permission of Coinbase)

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried will plead not guilty to the latest charges leveled against him, Reuters reported. (Liz Napolitano/CoinDesk)
Sam Bankman-Fried to Plead Not Guilty to Bribery, Campaign-Finance Charges: Reuters
The FTX founder previously pleaded not guilty to eight charges of fraud and conspiracy and is awaiting trial in October.
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried will plead not guilty to the latest charges leveled against him, Reuters reported. (Liz Napolitano/CoinDesk)

(Oleksii Liskonih/Getty)
Kansas Looks to Cap Crypto Political Campaign Donations at $100
The U.S. state is looking to amend its campaign financing rules to require donors' names and addresses be collected – and mandate contributions be made strictly via U.S.-based entities.
(Oleksii Liskonih/Getty)

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 08: CEO of FTX Sam Bankman-Fried testifies during a hearing before the House Financial Services Committee at Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill December 8, 2021 in Washington, DC. The committee held a hearing on "Digital Assets and the Future of Finance: Understanding the Challenges and Benefits of Financial Innovation in the United States." (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
FTX Asks Politicians Who Received Bankman-Fried Donations to Return Money
The “confidential letters” escalate a fight over what could be $93 million in campaign contributions.
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 08: CEO of FTX Sam Bankman-Fried testifies during a hearing before the House Financial Services Committee at Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill December 8, 2021 in Washington, DC. The committee held a hearing on "Digital Assets and the Future of Finance: Understanding the Challenges and Benefits of Financial Innovation in the United States." (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (Jesse Hamilton, modified by CoinDesk)
Congress' FTX Problem: 1 in 3 Members Got Cash From Crypto Exchange's Bosses
The session began with 196 U.S. lawmakers who took direct contributions from Sam Bankman-Fried and other former FTX executives, and many of them are still trying to get rid of it.
Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (Jesse Hamilton, modified by CoinDesk)

Nishad Singh (LinkedIn)
FTX Former Engineering Chief Nishad Singh Looking for Deal From Feds: Report
Singh may hold information key to showing how Sam Bankman-Fried violated numerous federal campaign finance laws.
Nishad Singh (LinkedIn)

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams announcing the Department of Justice's charges against Sam Bankman-Fried (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
Who Are Sam Bankman-Fried's Politically Connected 'Wealthy Co-Conspirators'?
The FTX founder is accused of violating campaign financing laws by making illegal campaign contributions totaling “tens of millions of dollars" through "straw donors."
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams announcing the Department of Justice's charges against Sam Bankman-Fried (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

Binance.US at Bitcoin Miami 2022 (Danny Nelson/CoinDesk)
Binance US Steps Into National Politics With New Campaign PAC
As FTX and its political-minded executives fall from their brief heights as campaign-finance giants, rival Binance has decided now is the time to enter the vacuum.
Binance.US at Bitcoin Miami 2022 (Danny Nelson/CoinDesk)

The U.S. Capitol will see an influx of new members of Congress next year whose campaigns were supported by crypto donations. (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)
Crypto’s Political Cash Backs Winners, But New Lawmakers Will Arrive Under FTX Cloud
The industry’s main political action committee, GMI, counts 19 victories in congressional races while defending its history of support from former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried.
The U.S. Capitol will see an influx of new members of Congress next year whose campaigns were supported by crypto donations. (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Sam Bankman-Fried, the CEO of FTX, is one of the top U.S. campaign contributors, though he's not putting his millions behind crypto advocates. (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)
Can Crypto Buy a Seat in Congress?
In the U.S. primaries, crypto millions sometimes failed to show much effect at all, though industry donors may claim credit in a few key wins on the road to the midterms.
Sam Bankman-Fried, the CEO of FTX, is one of the top U.S. campaign contributors, though he's not putting his millions behind crypto advocates. (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)