The Commonwealth Unity Fund is a political action committee (PAC). It was created by lawyer James Murphy, who supports XRP. Ripple's donation to the PAC will help promote the candidacy of another lawyer, John Deaton, who also defends the interests of XRP owners and is running for the post of Massachusetts senator. Along with Ripple, Murphy supported Deaton's initiative by donating $50,000 to his political campaign.
Senator Elizabeth Warren is known for her negative attitude towards cryptocurrencies and her desire to ban this asset class. Therefore, major industry participants are making significant donations to overthrow it. In April, Ripple executives Brad Garlinghouse and Chris Larsen also contributed $6,600 to Deaton's campaign.
In addition to Ripple's leadership, Deaton was supported by Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson, sending him $3,300. As of April 2024, Deaton has raised $1.26 million, with most of the funds being transferred by crypto enthusiasts.
John Deaton is a former U.S. Marine and a lawyer who defends the rights of cryptocurrency companies. Deaton's main contribution to the crypto industry was manifested in the litigation between Ripple and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In 2023, the court ruled that when selling on the secondary market, XRP is not an investment contract. Last year, Deaton was awarded the best defender of cryptocurrency companies award.