Coinbase Strengthens Its Political Game With Hire From Obama-Era Team

Key Takeaways

• Coinbase has hired ex-Obama and Harris aide David Plouffe as an advisor.
• Plouffe is the latest high-profile Democrat recruited by the crypto lobby.
• The crypto industry is already looking ahead to elections in 2026 and 2028.

The industry has generally been positive since Donald Trump entered the White House and installed some of the most pro-crypto regulators in U.S. history.

But Coinbase’s recent appointment of David Plouffe, an ex-Obama and Harris aide, to its advisory council , suggests firms haven’t lost sight of the bigger picture.

Coinbase Hires Washington Veteran 

Since it created the board in 2023, Coinbase has packed its advisory council with a high-profile roster of former Members of Congress, government officials, senior political strategists from both parties, and overseas politicians.

The crypto firm’s latest hire served as senior adviser to Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign and is known as the architect of Barack Obama’s successful 2008 campaign. 

Democrats in the Crypto Lobby

Plouffe joins other prominent Democrats at Coinbase, including pollster John Anzalone, former Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa, and former House Representatives Stephanie Murphy, Tim Ryan, and Kendrick Meek.

One-time Democratic staffers like Linda Jeng and Rosa Rios have also found work in the crypto lobby, advising Ripple Labs and the Crypto Council for Innovation.

Another notable example of the trend is former Senator Max Baucus’s work for Binance.

Building Bipartisan Support

With Coinbase at the helm, the crypto industry has emerged as a powerful force shaping U.S. politics thanks to well-financed funding vehicles like Fairshake. 

In the 2024 election cycle, Fairshake donated more money to Democratic candidates than Republicans. (Although it also spent a significant amount running attack ads against Democrat Katie Porter’s Senate campaign.)

Alongside Coinbase’s recent recruits from the Democratic mainstream, these endeavors help blunt the perception that crypto is purely a GOP cause.

Coinbase’s efforts to build bipartisan support in Washington suggest a more long-term view of U.S. crypto policy.

Fairshake has already secured over $100 million to support pro-crypto candidates in the 2026 midterms.

Beyond that, the crypto industry must work with whichever party forms the next administration and is already placing its eggs in different baskets.