Crypto Executives Gather at Trump's Fundraising Dinner
Executives from prominent cryptocurrency companies attended a fundraising dinner hosted by Donald Trump to support the construction of a new ballroom in the White House.
U.S. President Donald Trump held a fundraising gala for businesses contributing to a new ballroom at the White House, with notable attendees including the Winklevoss twins from Gemini and executives from Coinbase and Ripple.
According to a Wall Street Journal article, the event aimed to gather funds for the White House ballroom proposed by Trump back in July, which has an estimated cost of $250 million. This ballroom is expected to extend approximately 90,000 square feet (about 8,361 square meters) to the White House. Cointelegraph reached out to the companies involved to inquire about the donation amounts but had yet to hear back at the time of publication.
The dinner came amid the 15th day of a U.S. government shutdown, where numerous federal agencies are functioning with reduced staff and many employees face furloughs. No agreement has yet been reported between Democrats and Republicans in Congress regarding a funding continuance.
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Other participants included representatives from tech giants such as Meta, Google, Amazon, Lockheed Martin, and Microsoft. Kelly Loeffler, former CEO of Bakkt and now an administrator under Trump, was also reported to have attended.
Crypto Companies Strengthening Ties with the Government
Before this fundraising event, leaders from crypto firms had been visiting lawmakers in Washington, D.C., advocating for increased adoption of digital currency and blockchain technology.
During Trump’s presidential campaign, the Winklevoss twins pledged $2 million in Bitcoin to support his candidacy. They have maintained their presence in Washington by participating in significant events, including a signing ceremony in July related to a stablecoin bill and donating $21 million to a political action committee that supports Trump ahead of the 2026 elections.
Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse and Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty have also fostered strong relationships with the Trump administration post-election. They met with Trump during his transition phase and have publicly supported his initiatives.
Coinbase’s CEO Brian Armstrong has been actively engaging with U.S. lawmakers to promote the GENIUS Act and has made substantial contributions to Trump’s inauguration funds. He has had personal meetings with Trump as well.
