Bernie Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont, has sharply criticized the cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence (AI) industries for their influence on American politics. While cam
Bernie Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont, has sharply criticized the cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence (AI) industries for their influence on American politics.
While campaigning for Minnesota Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan, the Vermont senator said on July 21,
"Together, we are going to take on crypto, the AI industry, AIPAC and other billionaire super PACs and send Peggy to the United States Senate."
In his remark, Sanders clubbed crypto, AI, and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), together with other billionaire political action committees (PACs).
Sanders has kept a cautious approach when it comes to crypto assets as he believes they need stronger regulation to protect consumers from fraud, scams, and market manipulation. He has also expressed concerns that poorly regulated crypto markets could pose risks to the broader financial system.
As reported earlier, a Public Citizen report published on June 30 said that crypto companies have so far donated $189 million ahead of the midterm election in November 2026.
Andreessen Horowitz ($51.65 million), Ripple Labs ($49.6 million), Crypto.com ($38.6 million), Coinbase ($35.2 million), Winklevoss twins and Gemini-affiliated entities ($25.7 million), Tether's banker Cantor Fitzgerald ($10 million), and Blockchain.com ($5 million) are among the top spenders in the crypto industry. Most of the money flows into the Republican coffers.
During this election cycle, Big Tech/AI companies have spent $60 million and online betting companies $46 million.
As per Public Citizen, the donations from crypto, AI/Big Tech, and online betting companies account for 57% of the total corporate spending worth $517 million this election so far.
Related: Ripple, Coinbase spend millions ahead of November 2026 midterms
