Trump campaign raises over $4 million in crypto donations

An over 1,000-page Federal Election Commission filing showed that the "Trump 47" joint fundraising committee raised the total between April 1 and June 30. Overall, the committee raised more than $118 million in that timeframe.

Of those who donated cryptocurrencies, at least 19 donors contributed a combined $2.15 million in Bitcoin. These contributors come from 12 states, some of which were battleground states, and their professions included US military officer, Department of State security technician, homemaker, missionary, and painter.

Among the Bitcoin donors were Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, who contributed 15.57 Bitcoin each, or just over $1 million at the time of their donations. However, because these donations exceeded the $844,600 limit, the filing showed that the money was partially refunded. Also donating large sums was the CEO of digital asset security company BitGo Mike Belshe, who donated $50,000 in bitcoin.

The revelation comes as Trump is set to deliver the keynote address at the Bitcoin Conference in Nashville on Saturday. A campaign fundraiser will be held in the city on the same day, with top-tier seats that include a roundtable with Trump being priced at the maximum donation amount for individuals.

"Crypto innovators and others in the technology sector are under attack from Kamala Harris and the Democrats," said Brian Hughes, a Trump campaign aide. "While the Biden-Harris Administration stifles innovation with more regulation and higher taxes, President Trump is ready to encourage American leadership in this and other emerging technologies."

Trump announced in May that he would begin accepting cryptocurrency donations, making him the first major candidate to do so.

"This addition to President Trump's already groundbreaking digital fundraising operation marks the first time a major party Presidential nominee has embraced cryptocurrency for donations," the campaign wrote in a press release, noting that, "contribution limits and disclosure requirements for crypto donations will follow Federal Election Commission regulations."

The campaign added that as president, Trump "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 effort to reduce the control of government on an American's financial decision-making is part of a seismic shift toward freedom," the press release added. "Today’s announcement reflects President Trump's commitment to an agenda that values freedom over socialistic government control."