In a recent 60 Minutes interview, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse stated that the 2024 election marked a significant triumph for the crypto industry, with the majority of candidates supported by Fairshake, a crypto PAC, winning their respective seats. This achievement, he noted, was the result of a bipartisan effort, as the crypto industry itself transcends party lines, citing the cross-party support for the FIT21 digital assets bill. Garlinghouse pointed out that out of the 29 Republicans and 33 Democrats backed by the industry in congressional races, an impressive 85% emerged victorious.
He acknowledged that the crypto industry played a role in bolstering the candidates' campaigns with financial support, viewing the electoral cycle as an opportunity to educate voters about the benefits of crypto. When asked about the impact of crypto support on specific election outcomes, Garlinghouse affirmed that it had indeed made a difference in the elections of Democratic senators in Michigan and Arizona. The 2024 election also saw a notable shift in then-Republican candidate Donald Trump's stance on crypto, as he transitioned from being 'not a fan' to embracing the technology, a move that Garlinghouse believes was reciprocated by the crypto community.