Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and lawyer John Deaton faced off in their second and final debate before the November election, with a focus on policies related to cryptocurrency. The debate, streamed by New England Public Media and GBH News on October 17, saw Senator Warren targeting Deaton’s ties to the crypto industry in an apparent appeal to voters.
Senator Warren reiterated her stance that cryptocurrency transactions are linked to “drug cartels” and “terrorists,” advocating for stricter regulations in the industry. The debate also featured accusations of corruption, with Warren questioning Deaton’s loyalty due to his connections to the crypto sector.
“80% of Mr. Deaton’s wealth is tied up in crypto, 90% of his funding from this campaign is coming from crypto, and 100% of his loyalty in Washington will be to crypto: that is corruption,” Warren stated.
During the debate, Deaton countered by accusing Warren of having close ties to SEC Chair Gary Gensler, claiming she had coached him before a Senate Banking Committee hearing. When Deaton highlighted his pro bono work advocating for XRP holders, Warren dismissed it, saying, “He did pro bono work for crypto? Are you kidding me that that counts as a charitable contribution?”
The debate marked a crucial moment for Massachusetts voters as early voting is set to begin on October 19. In their first debate, Deaton accused Warren of prioritizing an “anti-crypto army” over more pressing issues like immigration and inflation.
As of October, polls showed Warren with a roughly 20-point lead over Deaton. Throughout her tenure, she has been one of Congress’s most vocal critics of cryptocurrency, frequently associating it with illegal activities such as terrorism financing and drug trafficking.
Deaton, on the other hand, has garnered support from the crypto industry, with contributions to his campaign through the Commonwealth Unity Fund political action committee. Notably, Gemini co-founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss each donated $6,600 directly to his campaign.
