Bernie Sanders Brands '$288 Million' Crypto Election Spending 'Legalized Bribery,' Calls For Publicly Funded Campaigns

Sen.

Bernie Sanders (I-VT) slammed on Monday expenditures by political action committees during elections, including those by the cryptocurrency lobby, and called for a move to publicly funded campaigns.

Move To Public Funding, Demands Sanders Sanders took to X to express his concerns about the influence of big money in politics, specifically calling out the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its allies. “This is legalized bribery,” the senior lawmaker said. “End Citizens United and move to the public funding of elections NOW.” Sanders is unequivocal in his belief that the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling must be overturned.

The decision lifted numerous campaign finance laws, enabling corporations, super PACs and outside organizations to spend an unlimited amount of money on elections.

AIPAC and its allies have already spent $50 million this election cycle.

AI has spent $185 million.

Crypto has spent $288 million.

This is legalized bribery.

End Citizens United and move to the public funding of elections NOW. — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) June 29, 2026 PACs Pour Millions In 2026 Elections The AIPAC is an influential, bipartisan political lobbying organization that advocates for pro-Israel policies and strong bilateral relations between the U.S. and Israel.

One of its leading affiliates has already spent more than $34 million so far this election cycle, according to FEC records, and still holds over $93 million in its war chest.

Similarly, AI-linked PACs have poured heavily into 2026 races, with Leading The Future, backed by venture capital firm Andreesen Horowitz, spending $24.39 million as of March 31.

The cryptocurrency industry, which emerged as a dominant lobbying force in the 2024 elections, has also mobilized for this year’s cycle.

Fairshake, a cryptocurrency-focused super PAC, has contributed $74 million as of May 31, while Protect Progress has disbursed more than $19 million.

Sanders said that AIPAC and allies have spent $50 million, AI interests have spent $185 million, and the cryptocurrency lobby has spent $288 million in the 2026 election cycle, could not independently verify the total funding figures Sanders mentioned.

The senator didn’t immediately return ’s request for comment.

A response from AIPAC to Sanders’ allegations is also awaited.

Read Also: A Trump Crypto Effect? Republicans Are More Likely To Use Crypto, Survey Shows Sanders Wants To Limit Private Donor Influence This isn’t the first time Sanders has voiced his concerns about the influence of money in politics.

In the past, he has criticized Andreesen Horowitz for r eportedly pouring massive funds into "buy politicians" who oppose regulating artificial intelligence and the cryptocurrency industry.

Earlier in the year, he slammed the Trump family for profiteering from cryptocurrency deals, calling it an "unprecedented kleptocracy".

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