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

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.