Ripple Contributes IDR 16 Billion To Challenge Elizabeth Warren In The Massachusetts Senate Election

Ripple, developer of XRP and leading cross-border payment company. (Photo; Doc. Quartz)

JAKARTA - The increasingly heated US political battle, blockchain-based payment technology company Ripple has taken a position by donating $1 million to support John Deaton, an XRP supporter, in its campaign against Senator Elizabeth Warren in the Massachusetts Senate election.

The move reflects strong support from the crypto community for pro-crypto candidates, in an attempt to fight politicians known as opponents of cryptocurrencies.

John Deaton, a former Marine and lawyer known for his role in the Ripple vs. SEC case, officially entered the election for Republican nominations in the US Senate elections in Massachusetts.

He is determined to challenge Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren in the upcoming November elections. Deaton is one of several candidates competing in the Republican preliminary elections scheduled for September 3.

Support from Ripple did not only come from its executives, Brad Garlinghouse and Chris Larsen, who contributed $6,600 each to the Deaton campaign.

The leading figures in the crypto world, including Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson, also provided support. As of April, John Deaton has raised $1.26 million in funds, mostly from crypto enthusiasts who believe in his vision.

The choice of the Massachusetts Senate became a battleground between two forces: pro-crypto and anti-crypto. On the one hand, John Deaton led the pro-crypto side. He struggled to secure the decision that the sale of XRP by Ripple was not an investment contract. On the other hand, Senator Elizabeth Warren, a veteran politician, is known for his critical views of cryptocurrencies. Warren has pushed for bans and restrictions on crypto growth.

Crypto companies are also taking part in this fight. They have funded a super PAC super political action committee for a total of about 150 million US dollars to support pro-crypto candidates.

In May, Ripple announced an additional USD 25 million donation for super PAC Fairshake, which supports political candidates fighting for the development of blockchain technology and regulations that support it. Coinbase and a16z crypto also contributed to this year's Fairshake.

With strong support from the crypto community, John Deaton is trying to bring changes to crypto policy in the United States. This fight underscores the importance of the crypto industry's role in determining the future direction of blockchain technology regulation and development in this country.