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Americans don’t trust crypto. Not really.
A Fairshake poll from April 2026 found 45% of people in the U.S. think cryptocurrency investments carry too much risk. The survey, done by Public First, comes at a weird time—right when crypto industry political action committees are dumping over $100 million into the midterm elections. So you’ve got this huge financial push from the industry while nearly half the country is saying “no thanks, too dangerous.”
The numbers are pretty clear. Almost half of Americans see Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital assets as high-risk bets they’re not willing to take. That’s a big chunk of the population sitting on the sidelines, even as industry insiders keep pushing for wider adoption. And it’s not like these folks haven’t heard about crypto—they have. They just don’t want in.
Money Talks, But Will It Work?
Crypto PACs are spending big. Over $100 million big. That money’s going straight into midterm campaigns, aimed at getting lawmakers who’ll back crypto-friendly regulations. The industry wants rules that make it easier to operate, easier to grow, easier to bring in new users. But here’s the thing: all that cash might not matter if people think the whole thing’s a gamble.
The financial muscle behind these PACs shows the sector’s serious about shaping policy. They’re targeting specific races, backing candidates who’ve said positive things about digital currencies, trying to build a Congress that sees crypto as innovation instead of danger. It’s a calculated play. Whether it pays off depends on way more than just money.
Public skepticism creates a problem for lobbyists. You can buy ads and fund campaigns, but you can’t really buy trust. Not easily, anyway. The poll shows a public that’s heard the pitch and isn’t buying it. That’s a tough starting point for an industry trying to go mainstream.
What Happens Next
The midterms will test this dynamic. On one side, you’ve got over $100 million in industry spending trying to move the needle on regulation. On the other, you’ve got 45% of Americans who think the whole space is too volatile to touch. Something’s got to give.
Crypto advocates keep running promotional campaigns, talking up the benefits, promising the future of finance. But the public’s not really moving. The perception of risk sticks around, even when Bitcoin’s up or when some new use case gets announced. People remember the crashes, the hacks, the stories of fortunes lost overnight.
The industry’s betting that political influence can change the game. Get the right people in office, pass the right laws, create the right regulatory framework—maybe then public opinion shifts. Maybe. But it’s kind of a backwards approach. Usually you win over the public first, then the politicians follow. Crypto’s trying to do it the other way around.
And the timing matters. April 2026 polling, just months before midterms, captures sentiment at a moment when both sides are making their case. The crypto sector’s pouring money into races. Critics are pointing at volatility, scams, environmental concerns. Voters are watching, and right now, a lot of them aren’t impressed.
The Fairshake poll didn’t just ask one question and call it a day. It captured a broader hesitancy that’s been building for years. Every time the market crashes, every time some exchange goes under, every time someone loses their life savings on a memecoin—it adds to the pile of reasons people stay away. The industry can lobby all it wants, but those memories don’t fade fast.
Financial contributions from PACs show commitment, sure. Over $100 million proves the crypto sector thinks political engagement matters. They’re not just hoping for good regulations—they’re actively trying to buy them. That’s not a criticism, it’s just how lobbying works. Every industry does it. But crypto’s facing a unique challenge because the public distrust runs deeper than usual.
Policymakers are caught in the middle. They’re getting calls from constituents who think crypto’s a scam and checks from PACs who think it’s the future. Some lawmakers will follow the money. Others will follow the polls. Most will probably try to split the difference, which usually means regulations that don’t make anyone happy.
The poll results also show the industry’s messaging problem. Despite years of promotion, despite celebrity endorsements, despite Super Bowl ads and stadium naming rights, nearly half of Americans still see crypto as too risky. That’s a branding failure at a massive scale. You can’t spend your way out of that overnight.
As campaigns heat up, crypto PACs will keep spending. They’ve committed the money, picked their candidates, laid out their strategy. But public opinion’s sticky. Forty-five percent saying “too risky” isn’t something you fix with a few attack ads or some positive press releases. It’s baked in from experience, from watching the market swing wildly, from hearing horror stories.
The industry’s probably hoping that regulatory clarity will ease concerns. If Congress passes sensible rules, maybe people will feel safer. Maybe. But that assumes the risk people see is regulatory uncertainty, when it might just be the fundamental volatility of the asset class. No law fixes that.
Crypto’s political push is happening whether the public’s ready or not. Over $100 million says the industry’s not waiting around for sentiment to shift organically. They’re trying to force the issue, create favorable conditions through legislation, hope adoption follows. It’s a gamble—kind of fitting for an industry 45% of Americans think is too risky to touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Fairshake poll find about American attitudes toward crypto?
The poll, conducted by Public First in April 2026, found that 45% of Americans consider cryptocurrency investments too risky.
How much are crypto PACs spending on the 2026 midterm elections?
Cryptocurrency industry political action committees are spending over $100 million on midterm election campaigns to influence regulatory outcomes.
