“Senator Warren is taking nothing for granted. She has a strong record of delivering for working families and continues to fight hard for the people of Massachusetts,” a spokesperson for Warren said in a statement.

Deaton is weighing entering the race as the cryptocurrency industry is ramping up an aggressive effort to influence the 2024 elections. An
industry-backed super PAC that has more than $80 million in the bank made its first major splash this week with a multimillion-dollar ad buy
attacking Democrat Katie Porter, a Warren protégé, in the California Senate primary.

And a pro-crypto Republican
is running to challenge Senate Banking Chair Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) in the closely watched Ohio race that could determine the balance of power in the chamber.

Warren has
positioned herself as one of Congress’ most prominent crypto skeptics, aggressively pushing legislation that would crack down on the industry from her perch on the Banking Committee. She warns frequently of fraud in crypto markets and has fought against industry-backed legislation that House Republicans are pursuing.

Deaton has challenged Warren’s crypto views
on X, formerly Twitter, and previously helped fight an SEC lawsuit against Ripple Labs.

Deaton’s resume goes beyond crypto advocacy. The former U.S. Marine who hails from a Detroit enclave, Deaton overcame an impoverished and violent childhood to graduate law school and start his own firm representing asbestos victims. He is a cancer survivor and the author of the book “Food Stamp Warrior.”