Winklevoss Twins Give MAGA Inc $10M Days After CFTC Deal 

Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, the billionaire co-founders of cryptocurrency exchange Gemini, donated more than $10 million in Bitcoin proceeds to MAGA Inc., President Donald Trump’s leading super PAC, according to a Federal Election Commission filing.

The contribution came weeks after Gemini and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission jointly asked a federal judge to vacate a previous settlement, drawing renewed attention to the relationship between cryptocurrency companies and Washington policymakers.

The Donation Details

The FEC filing shows each brother liquidated 79.35 Bitcoin and contributed the resulting funds to MAGA Inc. Cameron Winklevoss contributed $5,006,604, while Tyler Winklevoss contributed $5,011,860.

The donation came 23 days after the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and Gemini jointly asked a federal judge in the Southern District of New York to vacate a $5 million settlement reached earlier this year.

That settlement had resolved a CFTC lawsuit alleging Gemini made misleading statements about its Bitcoin futures product, and it was struck the day after Trump’s January 2025 inauguration, averting a jury trial. 

CFTC Chair Michael Selig has criticized the case, saying it relied on what he described as an unreliable whistleblower account and should not have been brought, though Gemini will not be refunded the civil penalty it already paid. 

Selig remains the CFTC’s only sitting commissioner, giving his comments added significance as the agency operates with a limited leadership structure.

The Winklevoss Brothers’ Political Activity 

The Winklevoss twins have become some of the most prominent crypto executives involved in Republican politics.

During the 2024 presidential campaign, each brother contributed $1 million to Trump’s campaign. They also donated $21 million worth of Bitcoin to the Digital Freedom Fund PAC, which supported candidates aligned with cryptocurrency policy priorities.

Their latest contribution places them among the largest individual donors to MAGA Inc., which has raised more than $400 million ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

On the Flipside

• Critics question the timing of the donation, which came just 3 weeks after the CFTC moved to drop its case against Gemini.
• Several states, including Maryland, Michigan, and North Carolina, have restricted cryptocurrency political contributions over transparency concerns.

Why This Matters

The Winklevoss donation highlights the increasingly close relationship between the cryptocurrency industry and U.S. politics. 

As Congress considers major cryptocurrency legislation, large contributions from industry leaders are likely to remain under scrutiny from regulators, lawmakers, and campaign finance watchdogs.

The timing of the donation, coming shortly after developments in Gemini’s regulatory case, has added to questions about the role of money, influence, and policy in the evolving relationship between crypto companies and Washington.

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