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Ripple has pledged $5 million worth of XRP to support the inauguration festivities of President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance in January.
Other crypto companies, including Coinbase, Kraken, and Ondo Finance, have announced large donations to the inauguration fund.
Cryptocurrency Companies Contribute Over $8 Million to Trump’s Inauguration
Coinbase and Kraken each donated $1 million to the Trump-Vance inaugural committee, Fox Business reports.
The committee is organizing a series of events, including parties, parades, and dinners, to celebrate the election victory in November. The three-day celebrations will be centered around the swearing-in ceremony on January 20.
Meanwhile, Ondo Finance is also said to be donating $1 million to the inauguration fund. The announcement comes after Ondo surged to a record high of $2.14 earlier this week, fueled by a $250,000 investment from World Liberty Financial, a Trump-backed crypto project.
Mario Naval wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "Ripple makes record donation to Trump. Ripple just donated $5M in XRP to support Trump's $200M inauguration fund. This is the largest crypto donation ever made. Crypto isn't just an alternative investment vehicle anymore, we're seeing it reshape the world of politics in real time."
However, donations come with several perks for these crypto leaders. Those who contribute $1 million or raise $2 million will receive six tickets to exclusive events during the inauguration weekend.
These events include a dinner with Trump and Vance and a reception with members of the incoming Trump administration, among other opportunities. This will provide an ideal opportunity for companies like Ripple and Ondo to establish a more positive influence on the new government.
Cryptocurrency donations take center stage
Cryptocurrency donations have played a huge role in the current political cycle. As BN Crypto previously reported, three crypto-related political action committees have contributed a combined $133 million to campaigns. Ripple, Coinbase, and Jump Crypto were among the largest contributors.
After the election, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse donated an additional $25 million to VerCheck, a pro-crypto political action committee. The group has already raised $103 million for the 2026 midterm elections.
Since Trump’s reelection, crypto executives have been seeking direct engagement with the incoming administration. Earlier this month, Crypto.com CEO Kris Marszalek met with Trump to discuss crypto-friendly policies and financial appointments.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong also held a private meeting with Trump last month, reportedly focusing on potential personnel options in the administration.
These efforts have already yielded results. SEC chief Gary Gensler resigned, and cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins was appointed as his replacement.
Additionally, Trump has appointed David Sachs as his first AI and crypto czar. With these developments, it seems that the crypto industry is poised to influence key decisions during Trump’s presidency.
