Florida Candidate Liquidates $800K in Bitcoin to Bankroll Congressional Bid
Michael Carbonara, a Republican running for Florida’s 22nd Congressional District, sold 10 Bitcoin for about $800,000 in USDC to help finance his campaign. Carbonara founded the digital banking and payments company Ibanera and is positioning himself as pro-crypto in a redrawn battleground race. His campaign says it accepts crypto donations and follows FEC rules, but most of his war chest comes from $2.3 million in personal loans, with only about $50,000 from individual donors. He argues blockchain can increase transparency in government spending and campaign finance, and says digital assets could help expose political “debanking” and make Washington spending visible in real time. The race has attracted attention from crypto-aligned politics, including Fairshake’s support for favored candidates in primaries.
