Barry Moore wins Alabama GOP runoff with $12M crypto PAC backing
In brief
- Barry Moore won Alabama's GOP Senate runoff with 56% of the vote after failing to reach 50% in the May primary
- Fairshake and Fellowship PAC spent $12 million on Moore's campaign, more than any other 2026 congressional candidate
- Moore voted yes on every noteworthy crypto legislation as a House member and now challenges Senator Tommy Tuberville
- Fairshake began 2026 with $193 million, backed by Coinbase, a16z Crypto, and Ripple
Fairshake's biggest bet yet
The Fairshake super PAC and its crypto-tied affiliate, Fellowship PAC, spent more than $12 million on Moore's Senate bid. That's more crypto sector funding than any other congressional candidate has drawn in 2026. Moore didn't exceed the 50% threshold in May's initial primary, forcing Tuesday's runoff against former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson, whom he defeated decisively.
Moore now seeks to trade his U.S. House seat for the Senate position held by Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville, who made a bid for governor. The general election in November looms as the real test—but crypto's investment in Moore's primary victory signals confidence in his path forward.
Fairshake's mixed record and war chest
The crypto PAC's 2026 performance has been uneven. While Moore's win counts as a major victory, Fairshake spent more than $10 million trying to defeat Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton in the Democratic primary, yet Stratton won anyway. In Oklahoma, Fairshake devoted $735,000 to U.S. Representative Kevin Hern, who went on to win the Republican Senate nomination. Hern, like Moore, was endorsed by President Trump.
Fairshake is mostly backed by Coinbase, a16z Crypto, and Ripple. The organization started this year's elections with $193 million and had roughly $164 million on hand as of late April, according to Federal Election Commission filings. That war chest allows the PAC to continue its aggressive spending into the fall.
"Our biggest spend of the cycle yielded yet another pro-innovation champion in the Senate, and with nearly $150 million cash on hand we are ready to continue driving the construction of the largest pro-crypto caucus in history" — Geoff Vetter, Fairshake spokesman
What Moore's victory means for crypto lobbying
Moore's primary win validates Fairshake's strategy of backing Trump-aligned candidates with proven crypto voting records. In his House tenure, Moore voted yes on every noteworthy piece of crypto legislation—a clean record that likely made him an attractive target for the PAC's spending.
The race also underscores the crypto industry's ambition to reshape Congress. Fairshake supported more than 50 pro-crypto candidates from both major parties in the previous congressional cycle. This year, with a larger war chest and a more focused approach, the PAC is betting that Moore's Alabama victory is the first of many.
