Recent Federal Election Commission (FEC) disclosures show that major cryptocurrency companies and their executives poured significant funds into US President Donald Trump’s $239 million inauguration fund after his 2024 election win.
Released on April 20 by the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, these filings underscore the crypto and web3 sector’s growing political influence and understandably spark concerns about possible conflicts of interest as the new Trump administration redefines regulatory approaches.
The FEC records indicate that Hayden Adams, CEO of Uniswap, contributed over $245,000, Solana Labs donated $1 million, and Consensys, a blockchain technology company, provided $100,000 in January to bolster Trump’s inauguration.
Other crypto firms, such as Coinbase, Ripple Labs, Kraken, Ondo Finance, and Robinhood, also supported the fund, with Coinbase, Ripple, and Kraken collectively donating $9 million.
These contributions join those from major corporations like McDonald’s, Meta, and Apple—whose CEO, Tim Cook, gave $1 million—as well as Delta Air Lines, ExxonMobil, Nvidia, PayPal, and Coca-Cola.
The crypto sector’s financial backing aligns with a marked change in regulatory oversight under Trump’s leadership.
Upon assuming office on January 20, 2025, Trump named Mark Uyeda as acting chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
In February, the SEC terminated its probe into Uniswap and resolved a legal action against Consensys, moves that came shortly after these firms’ donations.
The agency also signaled intentions to halt investigations or enforcement actions against Ripple, Kraken, Robinhood Crypto, and Coinbase, all of which had supported Trump’s campaign or inauguration.
This regulatory shift has fueled suspicions of preferential treatment, especially as Trump and his family expand their crypto ventures.
On January 17, Trump introduced a meme coin on the Solana blockchain, followed by a similar token from Melania Trump.
The Trump family’s role in World Liberty Financial, a crypto firm launching a US dollar-linked stablecoin, has heightened concerns.
With Congress debating stablecoin legislation, critics warn that the president’s business interests could sway policy, raising ethical questions.
The crypto industry’s political influence stretches beyond the inauguration.
In the 2024 election cycle, crypto-supported political action committees (PACs) invested over $131 million to impact congressional races in pivotal districts.
The Fairshake PAC, funded partly by Coinbase and Ripple, has already amassed over $100 million for the 2026 midterms, reflecting the industry’s strategic focus on shaping US legislation.
While crypto firms have, for the most part, applauded the SEC’s recent moves, these developments have sparked interesting discussions and debates about the impact of political contributions and regulatory decisions.
As Trump’s administration embraces a more crypto-friendly agenda, the sector’s growing influence and the president’s personal crypto projects will likely face ongoing scrutiny, with significant consequences for policy and public confidence in the coming years.