TL;DR:
- Ripple, Coinbase, Tether, and the Winklevoss twins reportedly donated to Trump’s new $300M White House ballroom.
- The privately funded project has drawn criticism after the East Wing’s demolition and transparency concerns.
- Crypto leaders continue to deepen ties with Trump following major 2024 election donations and recent policy influence.
President Donald Trump’s new White House ballroom has drawn an unexpected wave of crypto influence, with major industry figures, including Ripple, Coinbase, Tether, and Gemini founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, listed among key donors to the privately funded project.
Crypto and Tech Unite in Lavish $300M Expansion
According to reports, tech giants like Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Comcast have also joined the donor list, though the specific contribution amounts remain undisclosed. The new ballroom, a 90,000 square foot expansion capable of seating 650 guests, carries an estimated cost of $300 million and began construction in September 2025.
The initiative has not been without controversy. The demolition of the East Wing and questions over the project’s transparency have sparked criticism, particularly from Trump’s opponents, who accuse the administration of sidestepping oversight. The White House dismissed the backlash as “manufactured outrage,” calling the ballroom a “visionary, privately funded addition” to the presidential complex.
Trump’s growing relationship with the crypto industry has been years in the making. Earlier this year, Circle, Ripple, and Coinbase reportedly contributed to his inaugural committee, following a major 18 bitcoin donation from the Winklevoss twins to a pro-Trump PAC.
The 2024 election cycle cemented crypto’s political clout, as Fairshake raised over $200 million to support pro-crypto candidates, fueling what many describe as the most blockchain-friendly Congress in history.
In a move that reignited public debate, Trump recently pardoned former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, who had served four months for compliance violations, a gesture widely viewed as a sign of the administration’s continued alignment with the crypto sector.
