Donald Trump’s Inauguration: Coinbase, Kraken, Ripple, and Now Circle Donate Millions

 

Donald Trump’s Inauguration: Coinbase, Kraken, Ripple, and Now Circle Donate Millions

Mark your calendars for January 20. The fast-approaching inauguration ceremony has sparked a flurry of behind-the-scenes negotiations, with media outlets worldwide buzzing about who will—or won’t—be invited. But beyond the political intrigue lies a high-stakes economic game, as major U.S. companies vie for a front-row seat to the celebrations, eager to curry favor with the new leader of the White House. It’s tradition to donate funds for the inauguration ceremony, and this year, the amounts raised are breaking records. Every industry is chipping in, and the crypto sector is no exception—in fact, it’s leading the charge.

Record-Breaking Donations from U.S. Companies

The list of major corporations donating to the Donald Trump Inaugural Committee, the nonprofit organization overseeing the ceremony, grows longer by the day. Amazon, Google, Meta, Ford, General Motors, and even OpenAI have already announced significant contributions. For some, like Toyota, Goldman Sachs, and the pharmaceutical lobby, this marks their first time participating. Each hopes for a return on investment in the coming years, of course.

According to the Wall Street Journal, cited by numerous media outlets, a dozen major corporations have donated over $1million\text{—}theminimumthresholdtoattendagaladinnerwiththepresidentialcoupleandsecureameetingwithcabinetmembers\mathrm{.}The$107 million raised in 2017, once a record, has already been surpassed. 2025 is shaping up to be a banner year!

Crypto Industry Joins the Fray

Unsurprisingly, the crypto industry, which heavily funded Trump’s campaign, is also stepping up. Several key players have already pledged over $1million\mathrm{.}\ast \ast Coinbase\ast \ast ,\ast \ast Kraken\ast \ast ,and\ast \ast Ripple\ast \ast (whichdonated$5 million in XRP) are among the contributors. Fox Business also reports that MoonPay made a donation, though the amount remains undisclosed.

The latest to join the effort is Circle, whose CEO expressed pride in contributing in USDC:

“Circle has contributed $1 million in USDC to President Trump’s Inaugural Committee. We are thrilled to be building a great American company, and the Committee’s acceptance of payment in USDC is a testament to how far we’ve come, as well as the potential and power of digital dollars.”

Jeremy Allaire, CEO of Circle – Source: X Account

Through various Political Action Committees (PACs) like Fairshake, the crypto sector had already flexed its financial muscle during the campaign. Clearly, these industry leaders have no intention of missing their chance to shape the new administration’s agenda. The crypto world is eager to be at the heart of Trump’s first decisions, and the industry is anxiously awaiting the administration’s initial statements, hoping to leave the Gensler era behind for good.

Why This Matters:

1. Corporate Influence: The record-breaking donations highlight the growing influence of corporations, including crypto firms, on U.S. politics.

2. Crypto’s Ambitions: The crypto industry is positioning itself as a key player in shaping future regulations and policies.

3. A New Era: With Trump’s inauguration, the crypto sector hopes for a more favorable regulatory environment compared to the previous administration.

The Bigger Picture: What’s Next for Crypto?

As the crypto industry pours millions into Trump’s inauguration, the question remains: Will these contributions translate into tangible policy changes? The industry is betting big on a friendlier regulatory landscape, but only time will tell if these investments will pay off.

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