Bitcoin News Today: Winklevoss Twins Donate $21M in Bitcoin to Pro-Crypto PAC for 2026 Midterms

Tyler Winklevoss and Cameron Winklevoss, co-founders of Gemini, have donated $21 million in Bitcoin to the Digital Freedom Fund PAC, a political action committee supporting pro-crypto policies and advocating for self-custody rights while opposing central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) [2]. The donation, announced in late August 2025, includes 188.4547 BTC and is intended to strengthen the PAC’s influence in upcoming congressional elections and advance a Republican-led crypto agenda [1].

In a public statement via X, Tyler Winklevoss emphasized that the donation aligns with their goal of helping realize President Donald Trump’s vision of the United States as the global crypto capital. The PAC has expressed its intent to focus on the 2026 midterm elections, as well as key legislative and regulatory efforts, including Project Crypto at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s “Crypto Sprint” [1]. The Winklevosses also noted the importance of supporting market structure legislation that fosters innovation while avoiding excessive regulation [3].

The donation comes amid heightened political engagement from the crypto industry, with leaders increasingly investing in campaigns that align with their economic interests. The Winklevoss twins previously contributed $1 million each to Trump’s 2024 campaign and supported crypto-friendly Senator Cynthia Lummis for re-election. This latest contribution further cements their role as major players in shaping crypto policy through political channels [2].

The Digital Freedom Fund PAC is expected to use the funds to expand its lobbying efforts and campaign activities, with a focus on promoting decentralized finance and protecting individual control over digital assets. The PAC’s strategy includes defending software developers and supporting platforms that enable self-custody and peer-to-peer transactions, particularly in the wake of legal challenges faced by projects like Tornado Cash [4].

This development highlights a shift toward more partisan crypto advocacy, as the Winklevosses align with Republican-aligned initiatives, contrasting with earlier bipartisan efforts. The timing of the donation also aligns with broader political strategies as the U.S. moves toward the 2026 midterms, reinforcing the role of Bitcoin as both an economic asset and a political tool [5].

Source:

[1] title1: Winklevoss Twins Heave $21M Toward Republicans in Next Year's Congressional Battles (https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2025/08/20/winklevoss-twins-heave-usd21m-toward-republicans-in-next-year-s-congressional-battles)

[2] title2: Winklevoss twins donate $21m in bitcoin to Digital Freedom Fund PAC (https://crypto.news/winklevoss-twins-donate-21m-in-bitcoin-to-digital-freedom-fund-pac/)

[3] title3: Bitcoin News Today: Winklevoss brothers donate $21M (https://www.ainvest.com/news/bitcoin-news-today-winklevoss-brothers-donate-21m-bitcoin-pro-crypto-pac-opposing-cbdcs-2508/)

[4] title4: What is the meaning behind the Winklevoss brothers' $21M (https://www.onesafe.io/blog/winklevoss-brothers-21m-donation-cryptocurrency-politics)

[5] title5: Crypto firm which just filed for IPO won't shut down (https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/markets/crypto-firm-that-just-filed-for-ipo-hits-the-streets)