Crypto-Backed Protect Progress Spends Over $4.9 Million in Maryland Primary, Report Says

Protect Progress, a Democratic super PAC backed by the Fairshake network, has increased spending in multiple U.S. primary races as the 2026 election cycle advances, drawing criticism over how its political messaging is presented. According to Odaily, Protect Progress has spent more than $4.9 million supporting candidate Adrian Boafo in a Maryland U.S. House race. The ads reportedly focus on immigration enforcement, cost of living, and political positions, without directly mentioning cryptocurrency. Odaily reported that similar funding has also gone to several Democratic candidates in Texas and Georgia. Media figures have raised “blackwashing” allegations, arguing that some crypto-industry money is being routed through organizations with progressive-sounding names into minority districts while ads do not fully disclose the funding sources or industry ties. The report described the spending as part of a broader Fairshake strategy across multiple primaries: using super PAC funding to support candidates viewed as friendly to crypto while emphasizing everyday issues in advertising rather than industry interests. Separately, the U.S. Congress is advancing the Digital Asset Market Structure bill, known as the CLARITY Act, and Odaily said the legislative progress has increased attention on primary outcomes. Some senators and candidates have publicly supported or opposed a crypto regulatory framework, reflecting growing political divisions. The report said the dispute centers on the amplified role of super PAC money in local primaries and information disclosure asymmetries that may affect voter perceptions.