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

In a survey conducted by Public Opinion Strategies on behalf of CoinDesk, US voters ranked cryptocurrencies near the bottom of their list of priorities for the upcoming midterm election, with only 1% of respondents citing it as their top concern. The survey, which included 1,000 randomly selected registered voters, found that while other responses revealed a wider view of the technology as an important political issue, the industry's vested interest in the election outcome remains significant. The market structure bill, a key piece of legislation for the crypto industry, is still pending and faces several hurdles before it can become law. Other bills, including expected tax reform legislation, are also expected to be introduced in Congress in the coming months. Ahead of the election, the crypto industry has dedicated substantial funds 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. As of the survey's release, the most likely outcome of the 2026 election is that Democrats will become the majority party in the House of Representatives, while the Senate is more likely to remain dominated by Republicans. A generic question in the poll gave a slight edge to Democrats, with 44% of respondents preferring the Democratic candidate, compared to 41% for the Republican candidate. Prediction market provider Kalshi has the Senate at an even split, but Democrats face a tougher road to picking up a majority there, according to the Cook Political Report. The survey also showed US President Donald Trump with a net negative approval rating, with 40% of respondents approving of his performance and 60% disapproving. Respondents cited the cost of living, jobs and the economy, and Social Security and Medicare as their top priorities, with crypto ranking at the bottom, particularly among voters leaning toward the Republican Party. Artificial intelligence ranked slightly higher, with 2% of respondents citing it as their top priority. The survey found that crypto itself does not enjoy a favorable image among respondents, with 27% of participants saying they had invested, traded, or used a cryptocurrency, and another 27% saying they might do so in the future. Of those who had invested, 2% currently have over $10,000 worth of digital assets, 9% own between $1,001 and $10,000, and 12% have $1,000 or less in crypto. The survey also found that 47% of respondents believed Republicans were more supportive of cryptocurrencies, compared to 14% who said the same about Democrats. However, Democrats maintained a slight edge in voter trust in crypto, with 27% of respondents saying they trusted the party, compared to 25% who trusted Republicans. Roughly 40% of respondents said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who shared their views on crypto, though the survey did not ask whether this was tied to positive or negative views of crypto. Despite the low priority given to crypto, 3% of respondents said it was the 'single most' important issue for the 2026 election, and a further 22% said it was an important issue, indicating a higher awareness of digital assets than in previous years.