Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, co-founders of the cryptocurrency exchange Gemini, announced that they have donated over $21 million in Bitcoin to a political action committee (PAC) aimed at supporting US President Donald Trump’s crypto initiatives with a Republican-controlled Congress.
On Wednesday, Tyler Winklevoss noted that they contributed more than 188 Bitcoin (BTC), valued at approximately $21 million at the time, to the Digital Freedom Fund PAC.
The Gemini co-founders stated that their intention with this donation was to “support President Trump and his Administration’s efforts” on crypto policies by influencing the upcoming 2026 US midterm elections, advocating for market structure legislation, and addressing various issues surrounding digital assets and blockchain.
“The Digital Freedom Fund will collaborate with other pro-crypto organizations to identify and promote critical issues, such as the de minimis tax exemption for Bitcoin [which provides tax-free treatment for gains under a specified threshold] and other crypto transactions, to unlock the potential of these technologies, our industry, and the United States,” the Winklevoss twins remarked. “Our private stance will always align with our public stance on these matters.”
This Bitcoin contribution comes over a year ahead of the next major federal elections in November 2026. Following losses in the 2024 elections, where Democrats lost control of the US Senate and multiple House seats to Republicans, many within the party are focusing on regaining power in the next election.
According to records from the Federal Election Commission, the Digital Freedom Fund PAC was founded on July 11, with Janna Rutland serving as treasurer. She has reportedly been involved with various other PACs and organizations, including a nonprofit associated with former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
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The Winklevoss twins also contributed about $2 million in Bitcoin to Trump’s 2024 campaign. The recent $21 million donation likely reflects Bitcoin’s total supply, capped at 21 million coins.
Additionally, they contributed roughly $5 million to the Fairshake PAC, which has expended more than $130 million toward congressional candidates deemed “pro-crypto” while opposing those labeled “anti-crypto” in 2024. Fairshake announced in July that it had raised $141 million for US elections, including the 2026 midterms.
Is Gemini securing a foothold?
After publicly supporting and financially backing Trump’s 2024 campaign, both Winklevoss brothers were invited to inauguration events and participated in a White House crypto summit in March. The president acknowledged their support during a signing ceremony for the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act, which received bipartisan approval in Congress.
The Winklevoss twins reportedly enhanced their financial ties to Trump by investing in American Bitcoin, a crypto mining company linked to the president’s family.
Reports indicated that the Gemini co-founders parted ways with Trump’s crypto agenda by urging him to reconsider the nomination of Brian Quintenz as chair of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The president nominated Quintenz in February, with both brothers initially expressing their support on social media.
This report surfaced around the same time the Senate Agriculture Committee announced that the White House had requested a delay in considering Quintenz’s nomination. The Winklevosses’ actions seemed to place them at odds with several crypto and blockchain organizations, which expressed support for Quintenz’s confirmation in a letter sent on Wednesday.
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