Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he will begin accepting donations in cryptocurrency for his presidential campaign, making him the first major party presidential nominee to do so.
On Tuesday, May 21, his campaign team launched a fundraising page that allows donors to contribute using various cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, SHIB, and DOGE.
The page, hosted on the Coinbase platform, allows donors to contribute using any cryptocurrency accepted by the exchange.
“Today, President Trump’s campaign has launched a fundraising page that provides any federally permissible donor the ability to give – through its joint fundraising committees – using any cryptocurrency accepted through the Coinbase Commerce product.” An announcement on Trump’s official campaign website read.
The decision to accept cryptocurrency donations is seen as a move to appeal to a younger demographic increasingly interested in digital assets. Interestingly, the campaign’s announcement quoted a representative from Coinbase, Julia Krieger, as saying, “Crypto is nonpartisan and moves money forward because it’s cheaper and faster.”
It is also seen as a way to promote the president’s message of reducing government control over financial decisions.
“As our President, Donald J. Trump has reduced regulations and championed innovation in financial technology, while Democrats, like Biden and his official surrogate Elizabeth Warren, continue to believe only government has the answers to how our nation leads the world.” The announcement further read.
That said, Trump’s decision to accept cryptocurrency donations for his campaign is not without controversy. Concerns about the anonymity of cryptocurrency transactions have been raised, which could pose challenges in verifying donors’ identities. Nevertheless, the campaign team assured compliance with Federal Election Commission regulations, committing to transparent disclosure of donation sources.
Notably, Trump’s campaign announcement resonates with a message of empowerment, rallying supporters under the banner of a “crypto army” poised to secure victory in the upcoming election. The decision to accept crypto comes just days after Trump poked fun at President Joe Biden for seemingly not understanding cryptocurrencies like himself.
In response to Trump’s initiative, Biden’s supporters allegedly swiftly issued a call for donations, highlighting concerns about being “outraised” by “crypto executives” backing Trump, as seen via a widely circulated screenshot.
That said, Trump is not alone in recognizing the allure of cryptocurrencies in the political arena. Rival candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has embraced Bitcoin, citing its symbolic significance as a beacon of democracy and freedom. Additionally, candidates in smaller races, such as pro-Ripple lawyer John Deaton in Massachusetts, leverage cryptocurrency donations to challenge incumbent opponents like Senator Elizabeth Warren, who has espoused anti-crypto legislation.
