Bitcoin News Today: Winklevoss Twins Donate 188 BTC to Pro-Trump PAC Ahead of 2026 Midterms

Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, co-founders of cryptocurrency exchange Gemini, have donated $21 million in Bitcoin to a political action committee (PAC) supporting former U.S. President Donald Trump’s pro-crypto agenda ahead of the 2026 midterms [1]. The contribution, comprising more than 188 BTC, was directed to the Digital Freedom Fund PAC, which advocates for policies aligned with Trump’s vision for the digital asset sector [2]. The Winklevosses stated the goal of their donation is to support Trump’s crypto policy efforts, including advancing market structure legislation and promoting pro-crypto regulatory reforms [3].

The timing of the donation is significant, as it comes ahead of the 2026 U.S. federal elections. In 2024, Democrats lost control of the Senate and many House seats to Republicans, raising the stakes for the next electoral cycle. The Winklevosses previously contributed $2 million in Bitcoin to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and $5 million to the Fairshake PAC, which spent over $130 million to support pro-crypto candidates in the same year [4]. Their latest contribution, valued at a symbolic $21 million—echoing Bitcoin’s total supply of 21 million coins—signals a continued strategic investment in the political ecosystem favoring their vision for the crypto industry.

The Digital Freedom Fund PAC, established in July 2024, is led by Janna Rutland, who has been associated with multiple pro-Trump organizations, including a nonprofit linked to former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy [5]. The PAC aims to advocate for policies such as the de minimis tax exemption for small Bitcoin gains and to identify additional legislative priorities that could expand the adoption and economic potential of digital assets [1].

The Winklevosses’ involvement in Trump’s political sphere extends beyond financial contributions. Both were invited to the March 2024 White House crypto summit and attended Trump’s July 2024 signing of the GENIUS Act, a bipartisan bill related to stablecoins [2]. They also reportedly invested in American Bitcoin, a crypto mining company linked to Trump’s family [4]. However, the brothers recently expressed concerns over Trump’s nomination of Brian Quintenz for chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, initially supporting the move before reportedly urging a reconsideration [5].

This latest donation highlights the increasing influence of crypto billionaires in shaping U.S. political outcomes. As the industry continues to seek a regulatory framework that supports innovation while maintaining investor protections, the Winklevosses’ contributions underscore a growing trend of leveraging financial power to influence policy and electoral outcomes. The use of Bitcoin, rather than traditional currency, raises broader questions about the evolving role of digital assets in campaign finance and political strategy [6].

[1] Cointelegraph – https://cointelegraph.com/news/winklevoss-twins-bitcoin-donald-trump-us-midterms

[2] CoinCentral – https://coincentral.com/winklevoss-twins-launch-21m-bitcoin-to-power-trumps-regulatory-revolution/

[3] OneSafe – https://www.onesafe.io/blog/winklevoss-brothers-21m-donation-cryptocurrency-politics

[5] advfn.com – https://mx.advfn.com/bolsa-de-valores/COIN/BTCUSD/crypto-news/96677975/winklevoss-twins-donate-21m-in-btc-to-pro-trump-p

[6] advfn.com – https://mx.advfn.com/bolsa-de-valores/COIN/BTCUSD/crypto-news/96672789/ether-trader-nearly-wiped-out-after-epic-run-from