Crypto PACs Influence Rising in U.S. Politics

American crypto advocates are increasingly shaping political outcomes through heavy spending by political action committees (PACs), but Adrian Boafo, a Maryland Democrat, won a congressional primary on Tuesday after receiving $5.5 million in support from the crypto industry, reported CoinDesk. His campaign raised over $5 million in crypto-backed donations, securing a spot in the general election against a long-serving incumbent.

The crypto PAC Fairshake. Which backed Boafo. Also funded other pro-crypto candidates in Utah, New York, and elsewhere — a separate super PAC spent $1.3 million supporting a Democratic candidate in New York, showing the growing political influence of the sector. However, the support has drawn criticism from some Democrats, including Senate candidate Chris Van Hollen, who have questioned the industry’s sway over the party.

PAC-3 Missiles in the Middle East as Ukraine Proposes Swap

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Selenskyj has proposed a potential swap deal for PAC-3 missiles, which are used to intercept ballistic rockets — Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Selenskyj said he would trade air defense systems for the missiles, which are in short supply. The deal is aimed at Gulf states facing Iranian attacks and could involve a “fair exchange” of systems, according to NTV.

Selenskyj noted that the Patriot system, which fires PAC-3 missiles, is ineffective against the hundreds of Iranian Shahed drones attacking the Gulf states. He also mentioned that the Gulf nations are concerned about protecting their airspace against these threats. The Ukrainian leader spoke by phone with UAE President Mohammed bin Sajed to discuss the matter.

Pac-12 Restructures with 7 New Members

After a period of turmoil that left the Pac-12 with just two teams, the conference announced the addition of seven new members in 2026. The conference will return to Las Vegas for its basketball tournaments at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, with combined men’s and women’s events, according to FOX5 Vegas. The new members include Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, San Diego State, Texas State, and Utah State.

Only Oregon State and Washington State remain from the original 12-team conference. The Pac-12 now has nine full-time members and 12 affiliate members, according to the announcement. Commissioner Teresa Gould, who took office in March 2024, expressed optimism about the conference’s future. “With combined dates and new formats for both our men’s and women’s events, our rich basketball legacy meets transformation with exciting new energy,” she said in a statement.