Winklevoss brothers pour $21M Bitcoin into GOP-aligned crypto PAC

Billionaire Bitcoin investors Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, best known for founding the Gemini crypto exchange, announced they have donated $21 million worth of Bitcoin to a new political action committee (PAC).

The PAC, named the Digital Freedom Fund, openly aligns with Republicans. Its mission is to defeat Democrats and bolster Republican efforts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The Winklevoss twins contributed 188.45 BTC, roughly $21.5 million, to launch the fund. Tyler Winklevoss said the donation will support candidates who champion “President Trump’s crypto agenda” in primaries and midterm races.

The brothers warned that a Democratic takeover of the House or Senate could threaten Trump’s initiatives. Tyler suggested that Democrats, based on past actions, might resort to tactics he described as “bad-faith,” including impeachments and lawsuits.

Their policy priorities focus on advocating for a light-touch, regulation-lite “skinny” crypto bill, blocking the creation of a US central bank digital currency, and ensuring protections for developers to build open-source tools without liability risks safely.

The Winklevosses also emphasized the need for a “Bitcoin and Crypto Bill of Rights” to safeguard fundamental principles such as self-custody, peer-to-peer transfers, and clear ownership rights. For them, these measures are more than policy—they represent the foundation of what they call an “American Golden Age.”

Winklevoss twins break from bipartisan crypto lobbying

The decision sets them apart from much of the crypto industry. Others, like Fairshake, which raised over $300 million in 2024, have tried to remain bipartisan, backing Republicans and pro-crypto Democrats.

The Winklevoss twins, however, have taken a different route. They have explicitly tied their new PAC to Trump’s reelection campaign and Republican victories, convinced that a GOP-led Congress is the only path to achieving their goals.

Their hardline approach signals a shift in crypto politics. While many executives still frame their lobbying as “agnostic,” the influence of major players increasingly mirrors the tightening grip of Trump-era politics, as he nears the close of his second—and possibly final—term. Even figures like Mr. Fox, once a critic of Bitcoin, now embrace it as part of his economic vision.

Cameron and Tyler were among the first industry leaders to throw their support behind Trump for 2024, months before others followed. That early loyalty is now being rewarded with political clout and financial backing.

Winklevoss brothers turn Bitcoin into political muscle 

The $21 million Bitcoin gift is among the biggest individual crypto contributions in the history of digital-currency contributions to political causes. It reflects how much the industry is now invested in shaping Washington’s course. Leaders in crypto had long been people who operate at the fringes of politics, quietly lobbying and donating when the time called for it. The move amounts to a new level of ambition and an acknowledgment that digital wealth can be used as political capital.

At the same time, the plan comes with major risks. By so blatantly allying themselves with Republicans and President Trump, the Winklevoss brothers are helping to make cryptocurrency a partisan issue. That is a dangerous path for many in the industry. But, though the Republicans have adopted a pro-Bitcoin stance, some democrats are friendly to innovation and blockchain-based initiatives. Alienating them might box in the industry if political power changes.

The Digital Freedom Fund is poised to receive its first real exam in the 2026 midterms. If it can help the party win Republican victories, it could help build momentum for moves to loosen regulations, ban a U.S. international digital currency, and protect developers and investors. If it fails, it may reveal deep divisions among the crypto community, diminishing the industry’s power in Washington.

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