Crypto Lobbying Expenditures Skyrocket as Companies Battle for Regulatory Influence

In an era where regulating this rapidly expanding market has become a crucial issue, crypto companies’ lobbying expenditures have reached staggering amounts. In 2023, these players spent more than 40 million dollars to represent their interests to governments. This surge in lobbying expenditures signifies a true battle for the future regulatory framework of cryptos.

Crypto companies' lobbying expenditures reached a record high in 2023, totaling 40.42 million dollars, a 1386% increase compared to 2017, where investments in this domain were only 2.72 million dollars, according to data from OpenSecrets, a nonprofit organization that tracks money in politics.

These expenditures, which aim to influence government policies and secure favorable regulations for the crypto industry, saw a nearly 60% contribution in 2022 and 2023 alone. Among the biggest crypto spenders, Apollo Global Management, a private equity firm, stands out with a contribution of 7.56 million dollars, closely followed by the Managed Funds Association (4.11 million) and Coinbase (2.86 million) to representatives of their interests to governments.

This race to influence also translates into a strong mobilization of human resources, with Apollo Global Management employing 104 lobbyists, including 78 "revolvers," former public sector members now active in private affairs, who have precise knowledge of the internal workings of public decision-making bodies.

Another key player in this dynamic is Coinbase, whose lobbying expenditures increased by 3475% since 2017. From 80,000 dollars, they rose to 2.86 million in 2023. The rise of the Californian company is part of its strategy to become a key player in the development of crypto laws in the United States. With a presence in over 100 countries and a high transaction volume, Coinbase positions itself as a central figure in crypto exchanges and intends to heavily influence decisions that could affect its business model. It employed 39 lobbyists, including 32 revolvers, to strengthen its political weight.

Other companies are not far behind. Binance.US also saw its expenditures explode, with an increase of 656% between 2021 and 2023. Ripple, for its part, increased its expenditures by 1780% since 2017. The growing influence of crypto players on legislators could well shape laws that are particularly favorable to them. However, this dynamic raises concerns about the balance between innovation and consumer protection.