John Deaton, an XRP-supporting lawyer, may have failed in last year's Senate race against Senator Elizabeth Warren – a strong opponent of cryptocurrency. But instead of giving up on his political ambitions, Deaton is planning a comeback, this time targeting Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts.
Political ambitions and the confrontation with Markey
Deaton believes that the reputation he built in the previous race will help in this re-election bid. He is confident he can challenge Markey – a veteran politician who has served three terms in the Senate and intends to run for a fourth term in 2026.
Although Massachusetts is considered a state leaning towards the Democratic Party, Deaton still believes in his chances. However, he admits that one of the biggest barriers is convincing donors in the cryptocurrency industry that this race is worth investing in.
"This is a race that I can win," Deaton declared. But he is also worried about whether the cryptocurrency industry has 'given up on Massachusetts.'
What can major donors in the crypto industry help with?
When asked about potential donors, #Deaton mentioned Club for Growth and Fairshake – two influential organizations in elections.
Fairshake, a super PAC supporting cryptocurrency, has spent over $300 million in previous elections to support candidates friendly to digital assets. Recently, this organization raised an additional $100 million for the 2026 midterm elections.
However, Fairshake does not support Deaton in the 2024 race. If he wants to receive funding this time, Deaton must prove that he can attract voters.
"No one wants to invest in a losing cause," Deaton admitted.
Building an image outside the crypto community
To expand his influence, Deaton plans to launch a podcast with diverse topics to reach a broader electorate. He is also considering the opportunity to host a radio show on a station in Massachusetts.
Deaton understands that running as a Republican candidate in Massachusetts is a significant challenge. But he believes that if he has enough support from donors and voters, he can create a surprise.
From 'XRP lawyer' to 'Senate candidate'
Deaton, 57, was once a prominent figure in the $XRP community with nearly 400,000 followers on social media X (Twitter). He began to enter politics after moving to Massachusetts, aiming to defeat Elizabeth Warren – whom he harshly criticized for her anti-crypto stance.
"She publicly declared that she would lead a war against the crypto industry," Deaton said. "That really upset me, and I decided to run for office."
Although seen as 'a strange figure in the crypto world' when entering the Republican Party, Deaton still secured the party's nomination for the U.S. Senate position. He personally invested $1 million in his campaign and received funding from several major figures in the crypto industry, including Gemini founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss.
However, this effort did not help him defeat Warren. "I lost," Deaton admitted. But he believes that confronting Warren was still an important step in exposing her stance on crypto.
Commitment to continue fighting for crypto
Although he has not yet stepped into the Senate, Deaton affirmed that he will continue to voice important issues in the crypto industry, whether from Congress or on social media.
He emphasized that the U.S. needs a clearer legal framework to protect investors without hindering innovation. Deaton also warned that the Trump administration could be moving from 'one extreme to another' by reducing oversight of the crypto industry.
"I like that the government is no longer 'stepping on the neck' of this industry," he said. "But we also need reasonable regulations instead of completely abandoning it."
In addition, Deaton also expressed his opposition to Trump's official meme coin.
"When it was launched, I could only bow my head," he recalled. "This is really not a good image."
Crypto in the context of American politics
Overall, Deaton believes that the big battle for the crypto industry over the past four years has been to 'survive.' But in the next four years, the new challenge will be to gain legal recognition.
"Technology needs to maintain a neutral stance and stay away from politics," he said when asked about Solana's recent controversial ad.
As the crypto industry increasingly becomes a hot topic in U.S. politics, figures like Deaton may play a crucial role in shaping the future of this field. And despite many challenges, he does not give up on his ambition to secure a Senate seat.
Could Deaton create a miracle in the 2026 race? That will depend on the support from the crypto industry and voters #Massachusetts .
