Crypto champion Vivek Ramaswamy plans to run for Ohio governor: reports

Quick Take

  • Vivek Ramaswamy plans to announce a bid for Ohio governor “shortly,” a source close to Ramaswamy said, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported on Friday. 
  • During his presidential campaign, Ramaswamy said he would block the regulation of self-hosted wallets and allow for the “freedom to innovate without regulatory overreach.”

Vivek Ramaswamy, the biotech entrepreneur-turned-politician and outspoken advocate for cryptocurrency, is reportedly vying to take on another role as Ohio's governor.  

Ramaswamy plans to announce a bid for Ohio governor "shortly," a source close to Ramaswamy said, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported on Friday. 

During his presidential campaign, Ramaswamy said he would block the regulation of self-hosted wallets and allow "freedom to innovate without regulatory overreach." Following Trump's November win, the incoming president said he chose Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Ramaswamy to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. 

The department will be tasked with reducing regulations and restructuring federal agencies, among other things, to "dismantle government bureaucracy," Trump said. 

Work in that department will wrap up in July 2026, Trump said. The next Ohio gubernatorial race is slated for 2026. 

During the election, Ohio became a battleground for crypto funding as money poured into a key Senate race to give incoming Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno a win. Super political action committee Fairshake donated $12 million to Moreno to unseat former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, according to multiple news reports. Brown, viewed as critical of the crypto industry, has served in the Senate since 2007. 

Lawmakers in Ohio have introduced crypto-related bills in the past, including one to establish a state-backed bitcoin reserve. 


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About Author

Sarah is a reporter at The Block covering policy, regulation and legal happenings. Before, Sarah was a reporter with CQ Legal writing about securities regulation, which is where she first started reporting on crypto. Sarah has also written for The Bond Buyer and American Banker, among other finance-related publications. She graduated from the University of Missouri and earned a degree in print and digital journalism. Sarah is based in Washington D.C., and is an avid coffee lover. You can follow her on Twitter @ForTheWynn.

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