Bitcoin News Today: Winklevoss Twins Donate $21.5M BTC to Pro-Trump Crypto PAC for 2026 Midterms

Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, co-founders of Gemini, have made a major political move by donating 188.4547 BTC—valued at around $21.5 million—to the Digital Freedom Fund, a pro-Trump political action committee (PAC). The donation supports the PAC’s mission to promote crypto-friendly policies and back Republican candidates in the 2026 midterm elections. The Winklevoss twins have explicitly aligned with Trump’s crypto agenda, which includes advocating for minimal regulation, opposing the development of a U.S. central bank digital currency (CBDC), and protecting open-source blockchain developers [1]. This marks a significant shift from the generally bipartisan approach many in the crypto industry have previously maintained [2].

The PAC aims to influence regulatory reform and secure legislation that favors the crypto sector, including a "skinny" market structure bill that would define custody and trading rules for crypto assets [3]. The Winklevosses’ donation highlights a broader trend of using digital assets as political tools, with the potential to reshape policy discussions and regulatory frameworks in the U.S. [4]. Tyler Winklevoss emphasized the importance of building a future on “Bitcoin and open blockchain networks,” stating, “It’s time to put America first and make sure the future of money is built on Bitcoin” [5].

The move reflects a strategic investment in political influence but also carries risks. By closely aligning with Trump and the GOP, the Winklevoss twins could polarize the industry, potentially alienating Democrats who support innovation and blockchain-based technologies. The effectiveness of the PAC will be measured in the 2026 midterms—if it helps secure Republican victories, it may accelerate pro-crypto legislation. If it fails, it could underscore deepening divisions within the sector and weaken its influence in Washington [6].

Bitcoin’s price was $114,177.96 at the time of the donation, with a market cap of $2.27 trillion and a 24-hour trading volume of $65.5 billion [7]. While the market saw a temporary rise in BTC transactions, the broader 7.82% decline over the past week contrasts with an 11.35% increase over 60 days. The Coincu research team noted that such high-profile donations could trigger new discussions about the role of crypto in political finance and regulation [8].

The Winklevosses’ approach reflects a broader shift in the crypto industry toward overt political engagement, mirroring the increasing polarization of U.S. politics. This move underscores the growing intersection between digital wealth and political power and may signal a new era of crypto advocacy driven by direct financial and ideological alignment with political leaders [9].

Source: [1] https://cointelegraph.com/news/winklevoss-twins-bitcoin-donald-trump-us-midterms [2] https://www.ainvest.com/news/bitcoin-news-today-winklevoss-twins-donate-21m-btc-pro-trump-pac-2026-midterms-2508/ [3] https://news.bitcoin.com/crypto-billionaires-inject-21m-bitcoin-to-help-make-america-the-crypto-capital/ [4] https://www.cryptopolitan.com/winklevoss-brothers-pour-21m-btc-into-pac/ [5] https://cryptoslate.com/winklevoss-twins-donate-21m-to-new-crypto-pac-targeting-2026-midterms/ [6] https://coincentral.com/winklevoss-twins-launch-21m-bitcoin-to-power-trumps-regulatory-revolution/ [7] https://coingape.com/gemini-winklevoss-donate-21m-in-bitcoin-to-back-trumps-crypto-push/ [8] https://www.ainvest.com/news/bitcoin-news-today-winklevoss-twins-donate-21m-bitcoin-pro-trump-crypto-pac-2508/ [9] https://mx.advfn.com/bolsa-de-valores/COIN/BTCUSD/crypto-news/96677975/winklevoss-twins-donate-21m-in-btc-to-pro-trump-p