A coalition of AI companies unveiled a Super Political Action Committee (SuperPAC), designed to influence US technology policy and strengthen the nation’s position in the global AI race, according to an Aug. 25 press release.

The group, Leading the Future (LTF), pledged to back candidates who support innovation while pushing back against legislation that could slow deployment.

The launch is backed by more than $100 million in contributions from high-profile investors and technologists. Notable supporters include venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), OpenAI’s Greg and Anna Brockman, Rob Conway, Joe Lonsdale, and AI startup Perplexity.

LTF’s mission

According to its mission statement, LTF intends to craft a bipartisan agenda that keeps the US at the center of AI development. The organization plans to build political networks across federal and state levels, ensuring technology-friendly candidates gain traction in future elections.

Collin McCune, head of government affairs at a16z, described the initiative as a milestone in the firm’s long-term strategy to support pro-technology lawmakers. He warned that failing to establish a favorable policy could cost the US its leadership role in the emerging industry.

Considering this, McCune stated:

“AI isn’t hype or science fiction, it’s already here. This technology can drive the next wave of American growth, create new jobs, and unlock productivity across every sector of the American economy. But make no mistake: this is also a race with China. If we don’t have the right policies, we risk ceding the future of AI, and with it, America’s economic strength and national security.”

The PAC will be directed by political consultants Zak Moffatt and Josh Vlasto. Initial operations will begin in New York, California, Illinois, and Ohio before expanding nationally in 2026. LTF will become active in the 2026 election cycle, financing campaigns aligned with its pro-innovation policy platform.

Following cypto’s example

The AI industry’s political push closely mirrors tactics used by the crypto sector during the last elections.

In the 2024 election cycle, crypto-funded PACs spent hundreds of millions to influence congressional races, from California’s Democratic Senate primary to tightly contested House contests in Virginia.

That investment has since paid significant dividends, with the US government now more inclined towards the industry and having implemented a series of pro-crypto initiatives designed to allow the space to thrive.

Still, the industry players have raised an additional $141 million to expand their lobbying presence in the forthcoming mid-term elections.

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Ahead of an important week for digital assets legislation, Stand With Crypto (SWC) and over 60 other industry firms sent a letter urging House lawmakers to champion clear regulations for the industry and unlock its potential.

Industry Coalition Pushes For CLARITY Act Approval

On Monday, advocacy group Stand With Crypto, alongside 65 other firms and groups, sent a letter to the US House of Representatives urging lawmakers to support the bipartisan Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act of 2025 as the US approaches a “pivotal crossroad.”

Excerpt from the letter to members of the House of Representatives. Source: SWC

The industry coalition argued that digital assets continue to reshape the global economy, despite some efforts to “politicize crypto legislation,” adding that the US risks falling behind unless pro-crypto policies that fully embrace blockchain technology are quickly adopted.

There are already signs of U.S. crypto leadership slipping. We cannot afford to let inaction and uncertainty jeopardize our ability to secure Americaʼs economic future. Above all else the U.S. crypto industry needs market structure — which ensures there are clear rules of the road and provides the regulatory clarity that developers, users, and advocates need to continue innovating.

The letter explains that digital assets are “providing a foundation for a more inclusive, transparent, and secure digital economy,” and “opening doors for economic opportunity, innovation, and financial empowerment on a scale weʼve never seen before.”

As such, crypto developers require clear guidance and safeguards to continue building blockchain systems, with standards for transparency, security, and accountability, and where users can control their digital assets.

The lack of standardized rules has hindered institutional adoption, innovation, and pushed talent and businesses to more industry-friendly jurisdictions outside the US. Nonetheless, passing the long-awaited market structure bill would address these issues, the crypto coalition argues.

House Lawmakers Prepare For ‘Crypto Week’

Notably, SWC’s letter comes ahead of the highly anticipated “Crypto Week,” which will see the review of three key legislations during the week of July 14 to 18, including the GENIUS Act and CLARITY Act.

As reported by Bitcoinist, House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill, House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn Thompson, and Speaker Mike Johnson announced the upcoming discussion on rules on stablecoins, market structure, and central bank digital currency as part of Congress’s efforts to make America the crypto capital of the world.

Chairman Thompson affirmed that “it will soon be time for the House to deliver for the American people and send CLARITY to the Senate. I thank House Leadership for recognizing the urgent need for CLARITY to cement American leadership in the digital asset space.”

The bipartisan bill was introduced on May 29 by Chairman Hill, aiming to establish a regulatory framework for crypto assets and provide the long-awaited clarity and protection for the industry.

If passed, the legislation will assign clear roles and responsibilities to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which would “not only enable and empower developers to innovate, but also protect consumers through choice, foster greater participation in the blockchain economy, and strengthen national security.”

Nearly a month ago, the bill passed its two committee markups, but it still needs to pass the full House vote and the Senate before heading to President Donald Trump’s desk.

 However, its path to approval has been uncertain, as House Democrats have heavily criticized the bill, and some lawmakers have pushed to merge it with the GENIUS Act, making next week’s debate a pivotal moment for the legislation.

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Leading financial industry groups have urged President Donald Trump’s administration to roll back federal policies they say have restricted US banks from engaging in digital asset markets and warned that regulatory overreach is hampering American leadership in financial innovation.

In a letter sent to David Sacks, Special Advisor for Artificial Intelligence and Crypto and chair of the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets, the groups called for the immediate rescission or revision of policies imposed by federal banking agencies under the previous administration.

According to the letter:

“These policies have made it exceedingly difficult for banks to engage in digital asset-related activities, despite their clear legal authority to do so.”

They also pressed the White House to include key regulators — the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) — in the working group’s efforts to reshape the U.S. digital asset framework.

US banks sidelined

The letter, signed by the Bank Policy Institute, American Bankers Association, Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, and other financial organizations, argued that restrictive policies have left US banks lagging behind international competitors in the digital asset sector.

The banking organizations singled out several regulatory actions issued under the Biden administration, including:

• Federal Reserve’s SR 22-6 policy on crypto-asset engagement
• OCC’s Interpretive Letter 1179 restricting crypto custody
• FDIC’s FIL-16-2022 notification requirement for crypto activities
• Joint agency statements warning against crypto-asset risks

The letter stated:

“The United States will not be able to achieve a leadership position in digital assets and financial technology under the status quo.”

The banking groups said the first step in advancing that goal is rolling back Biden-era restrictions, which they argued have created uncertainty and discouraged US financial institutions from participating in the sector.

The organizations signaled their intent to provide detailed regulatory and legislative proposals to help US banks regain competitiveness in the global digital asset economy. They also requested a meeting with Sacks and the working group to discuss the next steps.

Inclusion in Crypto Task Force

The groups also urged Sacks to expand the President’s Working Group to include banking regulators, citing their influence over financial markets. The FDIC, OCC, and Federal Reserve were not included in the current task force despite their oversight of banks seeking to engage with digital assets.

The letter pointed to FDIC Acting Chairman Travis Hill’s recent remarks, in which he acknowledged that the agency’s approach to crypto had led to a perception that the FDIC was “closed for business” regarding blockchain and digital asset-related activities.

Beyond banking regulators, the groups suggested that the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) — both divisions of the Treasury Department — should also be included in digital asset discussions, given their role in regulating financial crime and sanctions compliance.

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