Crypto advocate and attorney John Deaton has announced his second campaign for the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts, setting up another potential face-off with Democratic incumbent Ed Markey in 2026. At an event in Worcester on Monday, Deaton declared his candidacy, saying in a campaign video, “I’m winning this time.” Deaton previously ran as the Republican challenger against Senator Elizabeth Warren in 2024, losing by approximately 700,000 votes. Focus Shifts Beyond Crypto Policy While his latest announcement did not focus heavily on digital asset regulation, Deaton’s name remains closely tied to the crypto world. He gained prominence representing XRP holders in Ripple’s long-running legal battle against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Deaton confirmed that he would again run as a Republican to unseat Markey, who has been a vocal critic of cryptocurrency mining and voted against the GENIUS stablecoin bill. Political Landscape and Early Challenges Massachusetts remains a Democratic stronghold, and Deaton’s path to victory may face significant hurdles. Representative Seth Moulton, a Democrat from Massachusetts’s 6th Congressional District, has already emerged as a potential contender for the Senate seat. Markey, now 79, has held the position since 2013 and continues to attract strong support among Democratic voters. Crypto Community Backs Deaton’s Effort Despite the uphill battle, Deaton retains a loyal base within the crypto community. “We’re never going to not be excited about someone advocating for [crypto] policy,” said Mason Lynaugh, community director at Stand With Crypto. “He’s going to have his own voters he’s going to cultivate that are very excited to see someone like him saying these types of things publicly.” During his 2024 campaign, Deaton raised over $360,000 in the first quarter alone, with major contributions from executives at Ripple, Gemini, and Kraken. As the 2026 race begins to take shape, Deaton is expected to continue leveraging his national profile and support among crypto advocates to challenge the Democratic establishment.
