Winklevoss twins join the GOP's crypto megadonor set

There's a new megadonor force in Republican politics: the crypto-mogul Winklevoss twins.Why it matters: Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, 44, are part of a rising group of millennial and Generation X crypto and tech billionaires who are bolstering President Trump — and could dominate the GOP donor world for decades to come."Who are the donors going to be for the next 20 to 30 years? I put them firmly in that group," said Republican contributor Omeed Malik, a business partner of Donald Trump Jr.'s at 1789 Capital and a friend of Winklevosses.State of play: The Winklevosses began donating to Republican causes in 2017, but their giving has exploded this year. According to a person familiar with the latest totals, they've shelled out more than $32 million to date.Much of that — $21 million — has gone to the Digital Freedom Fund, a just-launched super PAC that aims to boost pro-Trump and pro-crypto candidates in next year's midterms, Tyler Winklevoss tells Axios.The PAC hasn't announced which candidates it will support, but it does appear to have an early target to oppose: former Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown (D). Brown is a crypto skeptic who's trying to return to that chamber after losing his seat in last year's elections in a race in which he was opposed by the crypto industry.Among the Winklevoss twins' other donations: More than $2.6 million to the Congressional Leadership Fund and National Republican Congressional Committee, which are devoted to preserving to the party's tenuous House majority.$1 million to the pro-Trump MAGA Inc. super PAC.More than $1.6 million to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Senate Leadership Fund, which are defending the party's majority in the upper chamber.More than $800,000 to the Republican National Committee.More than $330,000 to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to helping the Health and Human Services secretary pay off his post-2024 campaign debt.What they're saying: "I think it's really important for the Republican Party to maintain control of Congress, if we are going to usher in and realize President Trump's vision to make America the crypto capital of the world," Tyler Winklevoss said.He said Democrats such as Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren — who has pushed for increased regulation of the crypto industry — have "galvanized millions of crypto holders to vote against Democrats and for President Trump.""I view last November as a starting line of sorts," Winklevoss added. "There's unfinished business."Catch up quick: The brothers are perhaps best known for their 2004 lawsuit accusing Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg of stealing their idea for Facebook while they were students at Harvard University — an episode that was depicted in the 2010 movie "The Social Network."The Winklevosses settled the case for $65 million. They later launched a venture capital firm and the crypto platform Gemini, which recently filed for an IPO on NASDAQ.Zoom in: As the Winklevosses' political contributions have increased, so has their activity in Washington.They have established warm relationships with Trump and Vice President Vance.In July, the twins attended Trump's White House ceremony to sign a bill that established a regulatory framework for stablecoin, a type of cryptocurrency. "These are two smart, handsome guys. They got the whole package," Trump said in introducing the brothers at the event. "They've got the look, they've got the genius, got plenty of cash."GOP senators have been using the Winklevosses as sounding boards for understanding the up-and-coming crypto world, said a congressional GOP aide.The twins are active in the Rockbridge Network, a coalition of conservative donors that was co-founded by Vance.The Winklevosses also have urged the White House to drop the nomination of Brian Quintenz to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which plays a role in overseeing the crypto market.They have argued that Quintenz isn't sufficiently aligned with Trump and his crypto agenda.They've also accused him of a conflict of interest, noting that he remains on the board of Kalshi, a betting markets firm that is regulated by the CFTC.The White House hasn't withdrawn Quintenz' nomination, though it did delay a scheduled July confirmation vote by the Senate Agriculture Committee.Quintenz declined to comment.Tyler Winklevoss said his policy goal was for there to be "thoughtful regulation" of the crypto industry "that balances innovation and the right amount of consumer protection."What's next: The twins — like other crypto-and-tech donors like such as Elon Musk, David Sacks and Peter Thiel — will be courted aggressively by Republicans seeking national office in the future."This alliance of MAGA and tech — that's the future, and [the Winklevosses are] very much a part of that," Malik said.

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