Warren, Deaton spar over crypto in first debate for US Senate seat
2024-10-16

Senator Elizabeth Warren and crypto lawyer John Deaton exchanged blows over crypto policy in their first debate in the race for a United States Senate seat.
Deaton, a Republican candidate for Massachusetts’ US Senate spot, called out Democrat rival and incumbent Warren during the Oct. 15 debate for focusing on building an “anti-crypto army” instead of prioritizing other issues impacting the lower and middle class in the state.
“With illegal immigration bankrupting the state, with inflation pricing regulator people out of the economy [...] why did this Senator wake up one day and say with all that, I will build an anti-crypto army,” Deaton said.
Warren claimed she’s “fine” with people who want to buy and sell crypto but wants to make sure the industry “follows the same rules” as banks and stockbrokers — namely consumer protection and counter-terrorism laws.
The Senator added she believes crypto is often used by terrorists, drug traffickers and rogue notions to finance their illicit activities.
Warren and Deaton both agreed that traditional banking has failed many Americans.
However, Deaton claimed banking access hasn’t been a priority for Warren — pointing to a December Senate Banking Committee hearing where Warren spoke to JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon and focused her line of questioning on crypto crime rather than banking failures.
Warren hit back, saying that 90% of the funds supporting Deation’s campaign to unseat her has come from the crypto industry and they’d expect “return on investment” should he make the Senate.
Deaton didn’t directly respond to the claim but said he often upsets the crypto industry with controversial takes and has beef with many “crypto billionaires.”
Warren is defined by party. Notice its Democrats are great, Republicans are bad. 
I got news for you Senator. All of you suck in Congress. All of you! 
— John Deaton (@JohnEDeaton1) pic.twitter.com/qpcjFVIFVk
The faceoff with Warren came after Deaton won the Republican nomination for the US Senate in the Massachusetts primary election on Sept. 4.
Warren has a 22.5% lead on Deaton based on six polls, The Hill’s 2024 Elections data shows.
Deaton is bidding to break an 11-year streak as Democrats have controlled both of Massachusetts’ seats in the US Senate since 2013.