Donald Trump’s Presidential Campaign Now Allowed To Donate Using Cryptocurrency

Key Points:

• Donald Trump’s presidential campaign now accepts cryptocurrency donations, which is the first for a major party candidate.
• The campaign aims to counter Biden and Warren’s anti-crypto positions and attract young male voters.
• Accepting various cryptocurrencies opens a new funding source for Trump’s campaign.

According to CNBC, Donald Trump’s presidential campaign announced on Tuesday that it will start accepting donations in various cryptocurrencies.

Donald Trump’s Presidential Campaign Embraces Cryptocurrency Donations

The decision aligns with Trump’s pledge to embrace digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ether, positioning him as the first major party candidate to do so.

Supporters can donate using any cryptocurrency accepted through Coinbase Commerce, according to a campaign press release. This initiative follows Trump’s declaration of support for crypto at a recent Mar-a-Lago gala, marking the digital currencies’ entry into the 2024 campaign.

The announcement also targets President Joe Biden, linking him to Senator Elizabeth Warren, a prominent crypto critic. Warren has campaigned to build an “anti-crypto army” to restrict cryptocurrency use, a stance that Donald Trump’s presidential campaign plans to counter with its own “crypto army.”

New Fundraising Avenue Through Digital Currencies

“This new cryptocurrency option will help build a crypto army, pushing our campaign towards victory on November 5th,” the campaign stated. The move could tap into a new funding stream for Trump’s campaign, which has lagged behind Biden in cash reserves despite strong fundraising efforts in April.

Crypto donations to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign will be treated as in-kind contributions, akin to stock gifts, and are subject to Federal Election Commission regulations on contribution limits and disclosures. The campaign can choose to liquidate the digital assets or hold onto them.

Trump has made previous efforts to engage the crypto community, which tends to be younger and more male. In December, he released NFT trading cards available for purchase with cryptocurrency, and earlier this month, he hosted a dinner for NFT supporters at Mar-a-Lago, urging them to vote for him.

Meanwhile, the Biden campaign has maintained a skeptical stance toward cryptocurrencies. Hours before Trump’s announcement, Biden’s team sent a fundraising text warning that “cryptocurrency executives and oil barons are backing Trump.”

While Trump promotes himself as the first major party nominee to embrace crypto donations, he follows in the footsteps of other candidates like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Senator Rand Paul, who previously accepted Bitcoin donations.