A crypto-backed political action committee has poured nearly $1 million into Michigan's 13th Congressional District Democratic primary, continuing the industry's broader strategy of directing funds toward candidates it considers supportive of digital asset policy.

Protect Progress, an affiliate of the Fairshake network, reported more than $986,000 in spending connected to Democratic Rep. Shri Thanedar and his challenger, Michigan state Rep. Donavan McKinney, according to Federal Election Commission filings published this week. The primary is scheduled for Aug. 4. As a super PAC, Protect Progress can raise and spend unlimited sums independently of campaigns, making it a vehicle for concentrated industry influence in targeted races.

The expenditure covers advertising in support of Thanedar as well as opposition advertising targeting McKinney. Protect Progress employed a similar playbook during the 2024 election cycle, spending more than $1 million to back Thanedar before he secured the Democratic primary with 54.9% of the vote. He went on to win the general election with 68.6%.

Thanedar's crypto legislative record

Thanedar has co-sponsored several crypto-related measures in Congress, including the CLARITY Act, which would establish a framework for determining whether digital assets are regulated as securities or commodities, and the GENIUS Act, focused on stablecoin oversight. He has also supported legislation intended to promote blockchain development. His voting record has made him a repeated beneficiary of support from crypto-aligned political groups.

McKinney, who has not built a public record centered on digital asset policy, has seized on the outside spending as a campaign issue, criticizing the industry's financial backing of his opponent.

The crypto lobby just dumped $1.2 million into our race to try to stop our movement. They're running attack ads against me to pay Shri back for the votes he took allowing Trump to make over $1b off crypto. Detroit, we need to show Shri & his crypto cronies we can't be bought. pic.twitter.com/4POkIXIFya

— Donavan McKinney (@DonavanMI13) July 21, 2026

McKinney also accused Thanedar of supporting legislation backed by President Donald Trump and the crypto industry. His remarks came as Fairshake-linked groups continued deploying funds in Democratic and Republican congressional contests nationwide.

Crypto PAC spending escalates across 2026 elections

The Michigan outlay is part of a much larger campaign by crypto-backed PACs during the 2026 election cycle. Public Citizen estimated in June that the crypto industry had contributed approximately $189 million to the cycle, surpassing its total spending during the 2024 campaign, as previously reported by crypto.news. That figure places the sector among the largest corporate-spending forces in U.S. electoral politics this cycle.

Fairshake and its affiliated groups — Protect Progress and Defend American Jobs — have targeted candidates from both major parties based primarily on their stance toward digital asset policy. Recent reports place the network's available funds at roughly $191 million, positioning the groups to enter additional races before the November midterms.

In June, Fairshake-linked PACs spent more than $8 million across congressional primary contests in Maryland, New York, and Utah. Protect Progress directed $5.5 million toward Maryland Democrat Adrian Boafo and more than $1.4 million toward New York Rep. Ritchie Torres. Boafo subsequently won his Democratic primary, adding to a series of victories by candidates backed by crypto-funded political groups during the 2026 primary season.

Michigan race attracts broader political scrutiny

The Michigan contest has drawn attention well beyond crypto policy. Thanedar is facing one of the most competitive primary challenges of his congressional career, while McKinney has garnered support from progressive figures including Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Rashida Tlaib. The race illustrates a broader split within the Democratic Party, where some members have embraced digital assets as a matter of financial innovation and inclusion while others view the industry's political spending with deep skepticism.

Thanedar recently received endorsements from House Democratic leaders. Axios reported on July 22 that party lawmakers were closely monitoring the race, though some did not regard a potential Thanedar defeat with the same level of concern seen in other contests involving progressive challengers.

Crypto-linked spending has introduced an additional dimension to the campaign. Thanedar's campaign also reportedly invested approximately $3.7 million in crypto-related companies and recorded losses exceeding $600,000 during the second quarter of 2026. Those investments have faced greater scrutiny as Protect Progress ramps up its support for his reelection bid.

Fairshake affiliates expand into additional races

Protect Progress has widened its activity beyond Michigan. Reports citing FEC filings indicate the PAC spent more than $100,000 supporting Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton in Arizona's 4th District. Stanton, who backed the CLARITY and GENIUS bills, won his July 21 Democratic primary against progressive challenger Kai Newkirk.

Defend American Jobs, another Fairshake affiliate, has spent more than $65,000 supporting Republican Amanda McKinney in Washington's 4th Congressional District, where voters will also hold their primary on Aug. 4. The seat is open following Rep. Dan Newhouse's announcement that he would not seek reelection.

With my background in banking, I understand the importance of financial freedom and innovation. I support crypto because an America First economy must keep innovation, investment, and opportunity right here in the U.S. approx. 1 in 5 Americans own cryptocurrency. Digital assets…

— Amanda McKinney for Washington (@_AmandaMcKinney) May 14, 2026

The latest wave of spending coincides with growing opposition to crypto-funded political activity. Sanders recently pledged to challenge the political influence of the crypto industry while campaigning in Minnesota. His comments centered on campaign spending rather than digital assets themselves.