US Voters Place Cryptocurrency Low on List of Priorities Ahead of Elections, Survey Reveals

As the US midterm elections approach, a survey conducted by Public Opinion Strategies on behalf of CoinDesk has found that voters rank cryptocurrencies among their lowest priorities. Only 1% of respondents considered crypto their top concern, despite a wider acknowledgment of its importance as a political issue. The survey, which included an evenly split representation of Republican and Democrat respondents, revealed a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.53%. Although cryptocurrency will not be a direct ballot issue, the industry has a significant stake in the election's outcome, particularly with regards to the market structure bill and potential tax reform legislation. The crypto industry has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to support friendly candidates, following its status as the largest donor industry in the 2024 election. The survey's findings are part of a CoinDesk series examining voters' views on the 2026 midterm election. According to the poll, the most likely outcome is a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives, while the Senate may remain Republican-dominated. A generic question about voter preference gave Democrats a slight edge, with 44% to 41% in favor of the Democratic candidate. Prediction market provider Kalshi predicts an even split in the Senate, but Democrats face a challenging road to gaining a majority. The survey also found that US President Donald Trump holds a net negative approval rating, with 40% of respondents approving and 60% disapproving of his performance. The cost of living, jobs, and the economy were cited as the most important issues, with crypto ranking at the bottom of the list, particularly among Republican-leaning voters. Artificial intelligence ranked slightly higher, with 2% of respondents considering it their top concern. The survey revealed that crypto does not enjoy a favorable image among respondents, with 27% having invested, traded, or used a cryptocurrency and another 27% considering it for the future. Of those who invested, 2% currently hold over $10,000 in digital assets. The data showed that 49% of participants who were more interested in this year's election than in 2022 owned $1,000 or more in crypto. Furthermore, 47% of respondents believed Republicans were more supportive of cryptocurrencies, while 27% trusted Democrats more on crypto issues. Roughly 40% of respondents said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who shared their views on crypto. Despite lower favorability for crypto, 3% of respondents considered it the 'single most' important issue, and a further 22% deemed it an important issue, indicating a higher awareness of digital assets than in previous years.