Senate candidate John Deaton announced he will begin accepting crypto donations to support his campaign against Elizabeth Warren.
Deaton, whose resume spans from the US Marines to crypto law, unveiled his campaign with a video on Feb. 20 that showcased his journey from a challenging childhood in Detroit to his service as a judge advocate in the military.
Warren has acknowledged Deaton’s challenge and opened donations for her campaign in anticipation of a race against someone heavily backed by the crypto industry. Her campaign page does not accept crypto.
Crypto donations
On March 5, Deaton wrote on X:
“Our campaign is now accepting donations made in cryptocurrency. I hope you will chip in and support our efforts to retire Elizabeth Warren. Please spread the word.”
Deaton’s campaign website indicates that he accepts donations through Coinbase Commerce, which accepts payment via Coinbase, Coinbase Wallet, MetaMask, and Wallet Connect.
Cardano creator Charles Hoskinson recently donated $3,300 to the campaign on March 3, which he identified as the maximum allowed donation amount.
However, donors can contribute $3,300 per election for a maximum donation of $6,600. In this case, one donation will go toward the 2024 primary election, and the other will go toward the 2024 general election.
Deaton’s challenge to Warren
Deaton has garnered a pro-crypto reputation due to his past involvement in the SEC’s case against Ripple and his vocal criticism of the watchdog’s enforcement-based approach to regulation. While he is expected to champion the industry in government, Deaton has yet to fully disclose his planned policies.
His platform centers on fighting for the interests of the working and middle classes, drawing from his own experiences of overcoming adversity.
Meanwhile, Warren is known for her anti-crypto policies — especially her proposed Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act, which aims to increase compliance with know-your-customer (KYC) rules. Warren has nevertheless expressed a desire to cooperate with the crypto sector.
Despite his lack of political renown within Massachusetts, Deaton is undeterred by the challenge of facing Warren, a seasoned politician and former Harvard law professor known for her advocacy on consumer protection and economic reform. Warren, who has secured her Senate seat twice.
As Deaton embarks on this uphill battle against a well-established incumbent, his campaign is poised to test the waters of Massachusetts politics, where voters have shown a willingness to cross party lines in statewide elections.