Can Meme Coins Power a Senate Bid? Virginia’s Mark Moran Says Yes
Decrypt
by André BeganskiFebruary 14, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Mark Moran, a former Wall Street banker and reality TV contestant, is making waves in Virginia’s U.S. Senate race by leveraging a Solana-based meme coin to energize his campaign. Dubbed the “Mark Moran Fund,” this cryptocurrency aims to rally crypto-native voters and challenge incumbent Sen. Mark Warner, a pro-crypto Democrat. Moran sees the token as a tool to innovate and connect with younger, tech-savvy voters, even as it draws scrutiny from regulators and political opponents.
The meme coin’s design sets aside 100% of its royalties for Moran’s campaign treasury, generating revenue through a 1% trading fee. Despite initial hype, the token’s value peaked at $32,000 before rapidly declining, mirroring the volatility typical of many meme coins. Moran acknowledges the risks but believes the attention and community-building potential outweigh the challenges. He views the experiment as an opportunity to highlight issues with campaign finance, particularly how politicians rely on donor influence.
Moran’s approach is a bold departure from traditional fundraising methods. By embracing crypto, he aims to tap into a growing demographic of digitally-native voters who value transparency and innovation. While some in the crypto community fear such moves could harm the industry’s credibility or derail legislative progress, Moran remains optimistic about its potential to inspire change.
This strategy not only reflects the broader cultural shift toward integrating blockchain technology into politics but also challenges the status quo of campaign finance. If successful, it could pave the way for other candidates to experiment with crypto tools, potentially reshaping how political campaigns engage with voters and raise funds in the digital age.
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Originally published on Decrypt on 2/14/2026