- The Winklevoss twins donated 188 Bitcoin valued at $21M to a pro-Trump crypto PAC.
- Proceeds will be used to support laws for self-custody peer transfers and ownership rights.
- The move signals crypto funding will shape U.S. politics as the 2026 midterms approach.
Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, co-founders of the cryptocurrency exchange Gemini, announced their contribution of 188 Bitcoins worth $21 million to the Digital Freedom Fund PAC, which focuses on advancing U.S. President Donald Trump’s crypto agenda through Republican gains in Congress.
Tyler Winklevoss disclosed the donation in a Wednesday post on X, confirming that their goal was to strengthen pro-crypto legislative and regulatory priorities during the 2026 midterm elections. According to his statement, the PAC will work to support policies designed to protect digital assets, streamline market structures, and establish broader rights for the crypto community.
The donation represents one of the single biggest Bitcoin contributions to a political organization, reflecting the use of cryptocurrency by investors in mainstream political financing. With this move, the twins positioned the token not only as an investment vehicle but also as an instrument of political influence.
Legislative Priorities and Policy Goals
The twins further stated that the Digital Freedom Fund intends to collaborate with pro-crypto organizations on issues like the de minimis tax exemption, which would allow tax-free gains on smaller Bitcoin and crypto transactions. Their announcement indicated that the PAC, formed on July 11 according to Federal Election Commission records, will prioritize policies intended to expand crypto adoption and safeguard blockchain innovation.
The legislative agenda features proposals such as a “Skinny Market Structure Bill” aimed at simplifying regulations, opposing the introduction of a U.S. central bank digital currency (CBDC), and introducing a Bitcoin and Crypto Bill of Rights. These measures would formalize protections for activities such as self-custody, peer-to-peer transfers, and ownership rights. The proposals also include immunity protections for developers, modeled after Section 230, and expansion of open banking rules.
Tyler Winklevoss also added in his post that such reforms would reduce bureaucratic obstacles for developers and entrepreneurs. He wrote that “builders don’t need more paperwork that requires them to hire lawyers, consultants, and lobbyists. They need fundamental protections, fair treatment, and for the government to stop meddling.”
Related: Trump’s CFTC Pick Faces Strong Objection from Winklevoss
The Shift in Political Engagement
Politico reported that this contribution marks a departure from the Winklevosses’ earlier bipartisan strategy. Previously, the twins had backed broader initiatives, including a $5 million donation to the Fairshake PAC, which raised more than $141 million for pro-crypto congressional candidates in 2024. The new PAC, however, explicitly aligns with Republican and Trump-focused political priorities.
The brothers had also played a role in Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, donating approximately $2 million in Bitcoin. Observers noted that the recent $21 million donation symbolically mirrors Bitcoin’s capped supply of 21 million coins, further embedding the asset into political messaging.
The Digital Freedom Fund has so far withheld its full donor list, but the inception and early funding point toward an uptrend in crypto-based political interference, posing a critical question: With cryptocurrency deepening its ties to partisan politics, will it decide the course of U.S. regulation in a way that deepens divisions?
Meanwhile, donors and lobbyists are believed to spur the U.S. into retaining a foremost position in digital asset innovation. Detractors worry that greater politicization could do away with the bipartisan consensus that had so far been the hallmark of the crypto policy discourse.
