Khurram Dara, a former legal expert at Coinbase specializing in policy, has officially announced his candidacy for New York State Attorney General, aiming to challenge incumbent Letitia James in the upcoming 2026 elections.

In his announcement, Dara highlighted his experience in regulation and policy within the cryptocurrency and fintech sectors, stating this as a key factor for his campaign against James, whom he accuses of using legal threats against the crypto sector.

Dara has hinted at a bid for office since August, framing James’s actions as ’lawfare’ directed against the crypto industry in New York.

Khurram Dara’s announcement
Source: Khurram Dara

Previously, Dara worked at Bain Capital Crypto as their regulatory and policy principal until July and served as Coinbase’s policy counsel from June 2022 to January 2023, also holding roles at Fluidity and Airswap.

James has been facing backlash from various crypto entities due to her litigation against firms like Genesis, KuCoin, and NovaTech. The future attorney general will play a pivotal role in deciding whether to pursue legal action against cryptocurrency companies.

In a related note, John Deaton, known for advocating XRP holders in a high-profile lawsuit, has also declared his intentions to run for Senate again, aiming to challenge Ed Markey as a Republican in 2026, and previously running against Elizabeth Warren without success.

Dara plans to campaign as a Republican and aligns his platform with Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s focus on affordability and cost-of-living issues faced by New Yorkers.