US midterm 2026 results showed Democrats winning control of Congress. US futures sold off overnight before paring some losses, while Bitcoin (BTC) slipped and then also bounced to almost fully recover.
S&P 500 futures fell 1.3% at one point on fears of tighter rules for artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers. NBC News projected Democrats flipped at least six Senate seats, including Texas and Ohio.
How Are US Futures Reacting to the US Midterm 2026 Results?
By 11:24 p.m. ET, S&P 500 futures were down 1.25%, according to Investing.com. Nasdaq-100 futures had fallen 2.26%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures had lost 0.77%.
Futures then pared part of the drop. S&P 500 futures traded roughly 0.5% below Tuesday’s settlement by early Wednesday.
The AI trade is the pressure point. Investors fear a Democratic Congress could tighten oversight of data centers and artificial intelligence (AI) spending.
The rebound left S&P 500 futures near the 0.5% loss JPMorgan had forecast for Wednesday. Kalshi had already put Democratic Senate odds near 90%.
Can Bitcoin Hold Its Rebound After the Democratic Sweep?
Bitcoin (BTC) sold off overnight as Democratic gains built, then recovered. It fell to about $75,695, according to CoinGecko.
BTC traded near $77,607 in early Wednesday trading, up 1.3% over 24 hours. That sits just below its 24-hour high of $77,965.
Crypto carries its own risk from a Democratic Congress. Markets fear delays to the CLARITY Act, a bill that would set US crypto market rules.
Binance Research data showed Bitcoin gaining 54% on average after past midterms, per earlier coverage of Bitcoin midterm election volatility. The sample is only three elections.
A Democratic Senate could also slow crypto-friendly nominees and legislation. That risk may outweigh the historical pattern.
