Bitcoin owners are becoming a significant voting group in the United States, and their influence is poised to grow ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Following their noticeable role in the 2024 presidential vote, recent polling from Cygnal shows that these crypto-aligned voters are aligning more closely with pro-Bitcoin candidates, most notably from the Republican Party.

Cygnal’s president Brent Buchanan noted that while the general electorate and the Bitcoin community still differ on several issues, the political relevance of this group is undeniable. He pointed out that President Donald Trump gained strong support from Bitcoin owners in 2024, a trend that continues to benefit Republican lawmakers today.

Considering this, the poll found that 76% of Bitcoin holders are more likely to vote for candidates supporting easier digital asset access. Meanwhile, 43% of all voters said a politician’s stance on Bitcoin could sway their decision at the ballot box.

This suggests that crypto ownership is no longer just about investment and is now a political identity.

Crypto owners distrust regulators and demand clarity

Despite their growing influence, Bitcoin owners remain skeptical of government oversight.

According to the poll, only 29% of Bitcoiners express strong trust in federal regulators to manage digital assets fairly, which is slightly more than the 12% of the general public who share that trust.\

Meanwhile, 33% of voters do not trust federal regulation of crypto, revealing a significant trust gap between policymakers and the crypto community.

The mistrust presents a significant challenge for policymakers, as most voters are either unaware of or unclear about the impact of some proposed pro-crypto legislation.

This is evident in the fact that only one-third of voters support the idea of a Bitcoin reserve despite its widespread adoption across US States and globally.

To bridge this divide, lawmakers may need to do more than simply propose policy and may need to invest in educating the electorate.

So, as the 2026 midterms approach, engaging Bitcoin voters could prove crucial for candidates hoping to ride the next wave of political momentum.

Mentioned in this article

Solana’s largest decentralized exchange aggregator, Jupiter, has decided to halt all community voting through next year and keep its governance Treasury sealed until 2027, citing community burnout and a need to prioritize building new products.

The move temporarily disables one of the main utilities for Jupiter’s native token, JUP, which powers governance proposals and decisions within the Jupiter DAO.

Voting activities will be on hold until at least the end of 2025, according to a statement shared by team member Kash Dhanda.

He wrote:

“Recently, one thing has become clear: the current DAO structure isn’t working as intended. We hear the complaints. We see the breakdown in trust. We feel the perpetual FUD cycle that grows with every vote.”

The statement added that the team intends to shift energy away from frequent governance votes and toward strengthening the project’s product suite and market position.

The governance pause comes as Jupiter’s DEX remains a major player on Solana, with more than $2.2 billion locked on the platform and daily fees averaging $1.6 million. It handles upwards of 80,000 token swaps each day, serving over 18,000 daily active traders.

However, Jupiter’s aggregator has lost momentum in recent months, with user traffic dropping by up to 60% and competitors like PumpSwap dominating the meme coin niche, now accounting for a majority of that trading volume on Solana.

Treasury closed until 2027

Under the new plan, the DAO’s fund, known internally as the Litterbox Trustm will remain inaccessible for new spending or budget proposals for the next two years.

Revenue from staking services such as jupSOL will continue to feed the Treasury, but fresh JUP minting for workgroups and governance rewards has been suspended.

Regular staking will still be available to token holders, with about 50 million JUP reserved for ongoing staking incentives. Aside from an upcoming 700 million token distribution, part of the final phase of the Jupuary airdrop, no additional JUP emissions are planned.

The team expects the break in governance rewards to help reduce selling pressure on the token, which has recently hovered near annual lows of around $0.40.

A redesigned governance structure is set to be introduced in 2026, aiming to address past disputes and streamline decision-making before the Treasury fully reopens the following year.

Mentioned in this article

The Texas Senate Banking Committee unanimously approved a bill on Feb. 27 to create a state-managed Bitcoin (BTC) and crypto reserve, sending the proposal to the full Senate for consideration.

Senate Bill 21 (SB-21), introduced by State Sen. Charles Schwertner, authorizes the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts to acquire, manage, and trade Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Lawmakers have argued that holding Bitcoin could protect state financial reserves from inflation and economic instability. Schwertner originally drafted the bill to focus solely on Bitcoin but revised it in February to include other digital assets.

The change followed President Donald Trump’s Jan. 23 executive order directing a federal commission to evaluate the feasibility of a national digital asset reserve.

The bill emphasizes Bitcoin’s potential to strengthen Texas’ financial security. It states:

“Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies can serve as a hedge against inflation and economic volatility.”

Pierre Rochard, vice president of research at Bitcoin mining firm Riot Platforms, testified in favor of the bill during a Feb. 18 public hearing preceding the committee evaluation.

He argued that Bitcoin’s transparent and auditable nature makes it a strong asset for public financial management. Rochard also warned that Texas must prepare for future economic downturns despite its current strong economy.

Nationwide legislative efforts

Texas is among numerous states exploring the creation of Bitcoin reserves. As of February, more than 20 states had introduced proposals to allocate a portion of public funds to Bitcoin and other digital assets. These initiatives aim to diversify state financial holdings and hedge against economic uncertainties.

Other states, including Oklahoma, Arizona, and Utah, have introduced similar measures to diversify their financial holdings. Oklahoma lawmakers recently advanced their Bitcoin reserve bill through a House committee, with the legislation slated for a floor vote next.

Similarly, Arizona’s Senate Finance Committee approved a bill permitting up to 10% of public funds, including pension systems, to be invested in cryptocurrencies. Utah is also progressing with legislation that would allow the state treasurer to allocate up to 5% of public funds to digital assets.

However, not all efforts have been successful. States such as Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming have recently rejected similar Bitcoin reserve proposals, citing concerns over the volatility and speculative nature of digital assets.

Mentioned in this article