Laura Dunn has entered the New York 12th Congressional race with a clear signal about where she stands on technology and financial innovation.
The civil rights attorney — and the first woman to enter the Democratic primary for NY-12 — has launched a campaign crypto donation wallet in partnership with MoonPay, making her one of the few federal candidates to natively support digital asset contributions.
By adopting blockchain-native payments, the campaign introduces a transparent and auditable funding model that improves accountability across political fundraising, tracking, and spending.
The system is powered by MoonPay’s compliant, production-grade infrastructure, with contributions processed through a regulated on-ramp that enforces KYC/AML standards, secures custody, and enables onchain verification.
“Democrats have often failed to champion innovation and technology while ensuring appropriate guardrails that protect consumers and society. That needs to change — especially in NY-12, which sits at the intersection of finance, technology, and innovation. Crypto is the next wave of financial infrastructure, and Congress should be encouraging it to thrive.”
Importantly for supporters, MoonPay does not limit contributions to a single cryptocurrency. Donors can contribute using most major digital assets, regardless of the blockchain they use, while the platform handles conversion and compliance behind the scenes.
For everyday users, this removes friction — supporters can donate with the crypto they already own, without needing to manage wallets, bridges, or technical complexity.
A Clear Contrast on Crypto Policy
MoonPay President Keith Grossman framed the partnership as a modernization of civic participation:
“Too much of our civic engagement is constrained by outdated payment systems that no longer reflect how people live in a digital economy. Laura Dunn’s campaign shows how crypto can expand access while maintaining accountability.”
Meanwhile, Dunn’s campaign finance manager, Sonya Baumstein, brings over a decade of experience in blockchain finance, most recently at a leading DePIN protocol.
She sees the move as practical rather than political theater:
“Blockchain adoption goes beyond cryptocurrency itself. It reduces administrative friction and expands access — especially for people outside traditional banking systems. Accepting crypto contributions is about inclusion.”
That focus on infrastructure matters, especially as recent high-profile political missteps involving memecoins and undisclosed token allocations have reinforced skepticism around crypto in politics. In those cases, reputable platforms — including MoonPay — acted quickly to block abuse and enforce standards.
A Familiar District for Innovation
NY-12 has long been a bellwether for financial and technological leadership. From Wall Street to fintech, the district’s economy is deeply intertwined with evolving payment systems and digital infrastructure. Dunn’s campaign positions itself as fluent in that reality — and willing to legislate accordingly.
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Editor’s Note
Regardless of political affiliation, it’s encouraging to see bipartisan support emerging around crypto and blockchain infrastructure. We expect more political candidates — across parties — to engage seriously with digital assets, not only as a policy issue but as operational infrastructure.
At Blockster, we support the mainstream expansion of crypto, especially when it enables fairer, more transparent systems — including political fundraising and public operations.
Candidates who adopt these tools responsibly can become educators and advocates, helping everyday citizens understand how — and why — crypto can be trusted.
Kudos to MoonPay for continuing to lead from the front, and to campaigns willing to build on credible Web3 rails rather than hype. 💜
MoonPay’s Growing Role in Crypto Policy and Governance
This isn’t the first time MoonPay has surfaced at the intersection of crypto, governance, and public accountability — particularly in New York.
Just last month, before partnering with Dunn’s campaign, MoonPay appointed Caroline Pham, former Acting Chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), to lead its legal and policy strategy.
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The move signaled a deliberate push to engage regulators directly and help shape compliant frameworks for crypto’s next phase of adoption — especially in jurisdictions like New York, where regulatory standards are among the most stringent globally.
