DCG Poll Finds Crypto Is a Major Election Issue for Voters In the 2026 Midterms, More Than Double 2024 Cycle
DCG Poll Finds Crypto Is a Major Election Issue for Voters In the 2026 Midterms, More Than Double 2024 Cycle
As CLARITY Act progresses, new Harris Poll data commissioned by DCG finds sweeping bipartisan demand for financial privacy, with 84% of Americans saying individuals — not companies — should own their personal data as crypto and AI use grows
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DCG, a global investor, builder, and incubator of decentralized ecosystems, today unveiled the results of a new study conducted in partnership with The Harris Poll, revealing that the number of voters that see crypto as a major election issue has nearly doubled in the last two years, from 20% in 2024 to 40% in 2026. The national survey of 1,874 registered voters, including oversamples in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas, finds broad and bipartisan agreement that digital asset legislation and the protection of financial and data privacy in the age of AI are increasingly top of mind for battleground voters.
"Candidates who champion digital asset policy and financial privacy don't have to look far for voter support. It's already there."
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The poll is released alongside the DCG Fly-In, a multi-day event in Washington, D.C. that brings together DCG executives and more than 20 blockchain founders from across its portfolio with members of Congress for policy discussions spanning data privacy and digital asset regulation.
"Candidates who champion digital asset policy and financial privacy don't have to look far for voter support. It's already there," said Julie Stitzel, Chief Policy Officer at DCG. "Political support for crypto has more than doubled since 2024, and 84% of Americans believe individuals, not companies, should own their personal data. In races decided on the margins, this constituency can be the difference."
Findings from the survey include:
Americans want financial privacy — and they’re ready for alternatives that deliver it.
- Two-thirds (66%) say people should have the right to make legal financial transactions without those transactions being permanently recorded and linked to their identity.
- 50% are supportive of privacy-preserving financial technologies that let people transact and use digital services without exposing unnecessary personal information.
- 40% say these tools should be widely available directly to individuals for personal use.
Voters want to own their data — and they don’t think companies or AI developers are using it responsibly.
- 84% say individuals should own their personal data and control how it’s used. Just 16% say the companies collecting it should.
- 97% believe companies misuse customer data at least to some degree.
- Only 39% are confident that companies developing AI are using personal data in responsible ways.
Voters want Congress to act on digital assets.
- 81% support Congress passing legislation that creates a clear regulatory framework for digital assets.
- 60% say Congress should pass clear rules for digital assets now, even if those rules need to be updated later as the technology evolves.
- 88% want policymakers to understand crypto before regulating it, yet only 44% believe that policymakers understand the technologies they are regulating.
The complete survey findings, along with detailed analysis and interactive results, are available at: www.theblockchainassociation.org/the-voter-mandate.
The findings arrive at a pivotal moment for digital assets, AI, and data privacy policy. Congress is actively weighing legislation that would set the regulatory framework for digital assets for years to come, while parallel debates over AI oversight and consumer data protection move forward across both chambers. The DCG poll suggests voters are watching closely and expect policies that will protect consumer privacy.
About DCG
Founded in 2015 by Barry Silbert, DCG is a global investor, builder, and incubator committed to advancing decentralized ecosystems built on blockchain technology. As the most active investor in the space, DCG has backed over 250 early-stage technology companies across 40 countries and holds more than 70 token and digital asset investments. In addition to its investment portfolio, DCG is the parent company of subsidiaries including Grayscale, Fortitude Mining, Foundry, Luno, and Yuma. For additional information about DCG, visit www.dcg.co.
The Harris Poll Method Statement
The research was conducted online in the USA by The Harris Poll on behalf of Digital Currency Group, Inc. among 2,005 US Residents Aged 18+, as well as approximately n=100 residents 18+ in each of the following states Nevada (n=104), Pennsylvania (n=113), Michigan (n=107), Arizona (n=111), Georgia (n=105), North Carolina (n=107), Ohio (n=107), and Texas (n=105). The survey was conducted from 8th May to 18th May, 2026.
The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within the percentage points shown below using a 95% confidence level.
- National ±2.7 percentage points
- Nevada ± 14.58 percentage points
- Pennsylvania ±12.96 percentage points
- Michigan ±14.61 percentage points
- Arizona ±14.29 percentage points
- Georgia ±11.30 percentage points
- North Carolina ±11.08 percentage points
- Ohio ±12.08 percentage points
- Texas ±14.61 percentage points
This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest.
