A new hybrid political action committee called Defend Developers PAC launched on Wednesday, positioning itself as the first PAC dedicated exclusively to supporting members of Congress who champion legal protections for crypto developers, DeFi builders and blockchain technologists.
The news was first reported by Eleanor Terrett of Crypto in America, with the PAC entering the political arena at a time when developer liability has become a central flashpoint in negotiations over the Clarity Act.
Developer Liability at the Center of the Clarity Act Debate
The PAC’s formation comes at a critical moment. Developer protections have become one of the key flashpoints in ongoing negotiations over the Clarity Act. Supporters of the protections argue that developers should not be held liable for how third parties use their open-source software. Law enforcement groups, on the other hand, have warned that such protections could complicate efforts to prosecute bad actors.
Adding weight to the legislative push, 160 former national security, intelligence and law enforcement officials signed a letter organized by the Blockchain Association urging Senate leadership to pass the Clarity Act swiftly. The letter argued that the bill preserves prosecutors’ and investigators’ ability to pursue illicit activity involving digital assets.
Who is behind the PAC
Gavin Zavatone, founder of DDPAC and policy lead at the DeFi Education Fund, said in a statement: “For too long, developers building decentralized technologies have faced regulatory uncertainty and enforcement actions instead of clear rules and guidelines. While legislation and rulemakings are being written as we speak, for some policymakers there is limited incentive to understand the fundamental nature of software development.”
The PAC’s board includes executives from the DeFi Education Fund, Solana Policy Institute, Uniswap Labs, American Innovation Project, and Orca Creative.
The group plans to support only incumbent members of Congress, arguing that donor dollars carry the greatest impact when directed toward lawmakers already shaping policy. DDPAC said it aims to raise and deploy more than six figures across dozens of congressional races during the midterms, with funding coming primarily from crypto founders, builders and executives.
Law enforcement fly-in and virtual town hall
The crypto industry is also hosting law enforcement voices on Capitol Hill this week. A fly-in organized by the Blockchain Association brought former national security, intelligence, and law enforcement officials to Washington for a breakfast briefing followed by meetings with members and staff from roughly 18 Senate offices.
A virtual town hall is scheduled for Thursday featuring Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN), and White House Crypto Council Executive Director Patrick Witt.
Fairshake continues its winning streak in California
Separately, crypto’s largest industry-backed super PAC, Fairshake, continued racking up wins on Tuesday. The group spent roughly $2.8 million supporting a slate of candidates who advanced through their California primaries, including Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Mike McGuire (CA-01), Jacqui Irwin (CA-26), Rep. George Whitesides (CA-27), Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36), Hilda Solis (CA-38), Rep. Dave Min (CA-47) and Rep. Lou Correa (CA-46). Rep. Lateefah Simon (CA-12) advanced uncontested.
Fairshake also backed Rep. Bob Menendez Jr. (NJ-08) and Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD), both of whom won their primaries. Rounds secured 77% of the vote.
Notably, Fairshake did not spend against crypto skeptic Rep. Brad Sherman, who will face Republican Larry Thompson in a November rematch for California’s 32nd Congressional District. Sherman defeated Thompson by more than 32 points in 2024 and remains heavily favored in the deep-blue district.
Next on Fairshake’s radar is Maryland’s 5th Congressional District, where it has already spent roughly $3.1 million backing State Delegate Adrian Boafo in a crowded Democratic primary set for June 23.
A poll commissioned by the super PAC found Boafo leading the field with 17% support, up from just 3% before Fairshake began spending in the race. Boafo has also picked up endorsements from Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) and Governor Wes Moore.
The bigger picture
The launch of Defend Developers PAC, combined with Fairshake’s expanding war chest and the coordinated push from former law enforcement officials, signals that the crypto industry’s political operation is growing more specialized heading into the midterms.
Developer protections, once a niche policy concern, are now a central bargaining chip in the Clarity Act negotiations. How Congress resolves this question could shape the legal landscape for open-source blockchain development in the United States for years to come.
Also Read: SEC Unveils 2030 Strategy With Focus on Crypto Rule Clarity
