Chainlink and Anchorage Digital-Backed PAC Unveils Bipartisan Candidate List Ahead of 2026 Midterm Elections: Expanding Political Influence of Institutional Finance

On Thursday, May 21, 2026, a new Political Action Committee (PAC) supported by industry leaders Chainlink and Anchorage Digital officially entered the 2026 midterm election race. They began their efforts by releasing their first list of bipartisan endorsements, designed to secure an innovation-friendly majority in the next Congress.

These endorsements aim to support candidates focused on maintaining digital asset innovation within the United States and pushing for clearer regulations.

The announcement revealed a mixed lineup including both Republican and Democratic candidates in key Senate and House districts. This is analyzed as a strategic choice by the crypto industry to pursue policy benefits without leaning toward a specific party, finalizing the first group of endorsed candidates as the election landscape takes shape.

Strategic Alliance: Collaboration Between Chainlink and Anchorage Digital

The PAC was established in March 2026, approximately two months before this endorsement announcement. The participation of Chainlink and Anchorage Digital signals a significant shift, as infrastructure and institutional-grade service providers begin to take the lead in political advocacy, moving beyond traditional exchange-centered political activities.

• Protecting the digital asset innovation ecosystem in the United States
• Supporting the establishment of a clear and predictable regulatory framework
• Adopting a direct contribution model for candidate campaigns

Unlike the indirect spending methods used by existing large Super PACs, this PAC also employs a method of delivering contributions directly to candidate campaigns. This is interpreted as an intention to maximize policy influence by building direct relationships with candidates, with the goal of establishing a legislative foundation that encourages domestic innovation.

The scale of political funding for the 2026 midterm elections is projected to significantly exceed previous cycles. During the 2024 election cycle, cryptocurrency PACs such as Fairshake raised approximately $300 million and recorded a high win rate of 91.4%, with supported candidates winning in 53 out of 58 districts where they spent over $1 million.

Bolstered by this success, fundraising activities for the 2026 cycle are already actively underway. As of January 2025, Fairshake has already secured $116 million in funds, demonstrating massive financial power for the 2026 midterm elections. This shows that the cryptocurrency industry has made systematic preparations to exert long-term political influence.

Regulatory Inflection Point: Commissioner Hester Peirce's Departure

The activities of this PAC are drawing even more attention as they coincide with the departure of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Hester Peirce, often referred to as 'Crypto Mom.' The industry is intensifying political pressure to resolve potential regulatory gaps caused by Commissioner Peirce's absence through legislative clarity, and this declaration of support marks the starting point.

Market experts view this move as an instance of the cryptocurrency industry adopting a 'hybrid' approach. This is an expression of the intent to have a substantial voice in the legislative process by combining direct candidate support with broad policy advocacy, and the list announced on May 21 is the first result of this strategy.

In the journey toward the November 2026 general election, this initial declaration of support will serve as an important milestone that sets the tone for the primary election season. Attention is focused on whether this political movement led by Chainlink and Anchorage Digital will lead to actual legislative outcomes and determine the direction of the digital asset industry in the United States.