Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and billionaire Elon Musk have joined a growing list of notable figures endorsing pro-crypto attorney John Deaton in his bid to unseat Senator Elizabeth Warren as Massachusetts’s representative.
On Oct. 21, Armstrong took to the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), urging crypto holders in Massachusetts to back Deaton. He criticized Warren for her role in appointing Gary Gensler as SEC Chair and accused her of supporting efforts to dismantle the crypto industry in the US.
He wrote:
“Crypto holders in MA should realize Sen Warren is the one who got Gary Gensler his job and encouraged him to (unlawfully) try and kill the crypto industry in America..”
Armstrong also described Warren as an advocate of heavy government control, calling her “anti-freedom.” He added:
“She is anti-freedom, thinks the government should run all financial services (similar to China), and has done enormous harm to this country.”
Shortly after Armstrong’s statement, Musk voiced his support for Deaton with a brief but precise “Yes” post in response to the Coinbase CEO. Musk’s backing aligns with his pro-crypto stance and support for other crypto-friendly figures like presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Crypto support for Deaton
Armstrong and Musk’s endorsements are the latest in a wave of support for Deaton’s Senate campaign. Earlier this year, Ripple contributed $1 million to Deaton’s campaign through a political action committee called the Commonwealth Unity Fund.
Tyler Winklevoss, co-founder of Gemini, has also urged voters in Massachusetts to back Deaton, citing Warren’s harmful actions against the crypto industry. In July, Gemini founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss donated $1 million to a super PAC supporting Deaton.
Other prominent figures in the crypto world, including Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson and Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, have also endorsed Deaton. They view him as a key player in defending the crypto industry from what they describe as Warren’s “anti-crypto crusade.”
Over the years, Deaton has built a strong reputation for his involvement with Ripple XRP and is positioning himself as a staunch defender of the crypto sector. His challenge to Warren, one of Congress’s most vocal crypto opponents, has made him the preferred candidate for many within the industry.
Meanwhile, Senator Warren has criticized Deaton for his deep connections to the crypto industry. During a recent debate, she remarked:
“80% of Mr. Deaton’s wealth is tied up in crypto, 90% of his campaign funding is coming from crypto, and 100% of his loyalty in Washington will be to crypto: that is corruption.”
Despite Deaton’s strong backing from the crypto community, recent polls from earlier this month show Warren leading Deaton 56% to 34%.