Nearly $200M in Lobbying Fails as Washington Shifts, Crypto Industry Faces Headwinds

The Democratic Party secured control of both chambers of the US Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, marking a significant shift in Washington's political landscape. The crypto industry spent nearly $200 million on lobbying but failed to prevent this outcome, facing a more stringent regulatory outlook. The key CLARITY bill stalled in the Senate, and crypto critics like Sherrod Brown, Elizabeth Warren, and Maxine Waters will hold legislative leverage in the new Congress, forcing the industry to recalibrate its compliance and lobbying strategies.