Sentinel Action Fund pledges $8M to support pro-crypto Jon Husted in Ohio Senate race

A multi-million dollar influx from crypto-aligned donors is set to shape the 2026 Ohio Senate race as the Sentinel Action Fund commits $8 million to support Republican Senator Jon Husted.

Sentinel Action Fund officials announced Wednesday that the super PAC, alongside its affiliate Right Vote, will direct the funds toward Husted’s bid to retain his seat in the upcoming November midterms. 

The move signals a concerted effort by the digital asset industry to solidify its influence in Washington following significant shifts in the 2024 election cycle. 

Husted, a consistent advocate for blockchain technology, has built a reputation as a “strongly supports crypto” candidate through his backing of the GENIUS Act and calls for a pro-innovation regulatory framework.

“Digital asset technology represents the next wave of economic opportunity for working families,” Husted stated, advocating for a federal approach that encourages domestic growth rather than restrictive oversight.

Federal Election Commission records show that the Solana Institute and Multicoin Capital are the primary drivers behind Sentinel’s current war chest, contributing $750,000 and $250,000, respectively. 

The PAC has also drawn support from traditional Wall Street heavyweights, including Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman and Fisher Investments Chairman Kenneth Fisher, bringing together Silicon Valley capital and established finance in a way that sets Husted apart from his predecessor, Sherrod Brown, who lost his seat in 2024 after frequently challenging the industry over concerns tied to sanctions evasion and illicit finance.

“[Brown] has stood in the way of pro-innovation policies when it comes to digital assets,” Sentinel Action Fund President Jessica Anderson said in an accompanying statement, positioning Husted as the necessary correction to that legislative approach.

Strategic expansion into the 2026 midterms

The Ohio commitment is part of a larger nationwide strategy by crypto-focused political groups to secure a friendly Senate majority. 

Husted is the third candidate to receive Sentinel’s formal endorsement this cycle, joining Maine Senator Susan Collins and Michigan’s Mike Rogers. 

This surge in spending follows the blueprint established by Fairshake, a massive super PAC backed by Coinbase and a16z, which spent $12 million to help Republican Bernie Moreno defeat Brown in the previous election.

Fairshake has already reported a balance of $193 million to deploy as the midterms approach. Other players are also entering the fray, with Cantor Fitzgerald contributing $10 million to the Fellowship PAC, which recently appointed Tether executive Jesse Spiro as its chairman. 

This level of early-cycle spending suggests that the intersection of digital finance and federal policy will remain a primary battleground for the foreseeable future.