Caroline Bishop
Apr 15, 2026 18:12
Sentinel Action Fund backs Jon Husted with $8M+ Ohio spending pledge as crypto industry targets Brown’s comeback bid in 2026 midterms.
The cryptocurrency industry’s political war chest is opening again in Ohio, with Sentinel Action Fund announcing a seven-figure commitment to Republican Jon Husted’s Senate campaign—setting up a rematch against crypto critic Sherrod Brown that could dwarf 2024’s spending.
The conservative Super PAC, which claims to be the only one dedicated to advancing pro-crypto Republican candidates, pledged Wednesday that it and sister organization Right Vote would spend more than $8 million in the Buckeye state. Federal Election Commission filings show Sentinel raised roughly $9 million between January 2025 and March 2026, with notable contributions including $750,000 from the Solana Policy Institute and $250,000 from Multicoin Capital.
Brown Rematch Looms After 2024 Defeat
This isn’t the industry’s first Ohio rodeo. Crypto-aligned PACs poured over $40 million into the state during 2024 to back Bernie Moreno’s successful campaign against Brown, who had publicly criticized digital assets for years. Brown lost that race but announced in August he’d run again—this time facing off against Ron Kincaid in the May 5 Democratic primary.
Sentinel Action Fund President Jessica Anderson didn’t mince words in the endorsement, specifically calling out Brown for having “stood in the way of pro-innovation policies when it comes to digital assets.”
Husted, appointed by Governor Mike DeWine in January 2025 to fill JD Vance’s vacated seat after the vice presidential win, brings genuine crypto credentials. In January 2026, he backed legislation blocking the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency, arguing it would “undermine financial freedom and privacy.” A month later, he publicly advocated for building a “pro-innovation framework for digital assets,” positioning America as a leader rather than a follower in blockchain technology.
Ramaswamy’s Governor Bid Raises Conflict Questions
Ohio’s gubernatorial race presents its own crypto angle—and controversy. Vivek Ramaswamy, who launched his campaign in February 2025 after leaving Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, has pushed for a strategic Bitcoin reserve in the state.
Financial disclosures filed April 6 reveal why critics are crying foul: Ramaswamy holds a 10% stake in Strive, the Bitcoin treasury company he helped back. Strive currently holds approximately 13,768 BTC worth over $1 billion. Should Ohio’s treasury invest in Bitcoin under a Governor Ramaswamy—a policy he’d have significant influence over—his personal holdings would benefit directly.
The conflict-of-interest concerns haven’t slowed his campaign, but they’ve given opponents ammunition heading into the Republican primary.
What This Signals for 2026
Ohio has long been crypto-friendly territory at the state level. Back in 2019, legislators introduced bills to enable blockchain adoption in government functions, and the state became the first to accept cryptocurrency for business tax payments.
The Sentinel Action Fund’s early, aggressive move into this race suggests crypto industry groups aren’t waiting to see how regulatory battles in Washington shake out. With the May 5 primaries approaching, expect spending to accelerate—and for Ohio to serve as a test case for whether the industry’s 2024 political playbook still works in the midterms.
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