- Kraken publicly disclosed that it pledged $1 million to Freedom Fund PAC and $1 million to America First Digital.
- The exchange says the donations are strategic, principle-based contributions rather than partisan support.
- Crypto firms are increasingly using political action committees (PACs) as tools to shape regulation.
Crypto exchange Kraken has announced a $2 million donation to two politically active crypto groups, namely Freedom Fund PAC and America First Digital, as part of what it calls an ongoing “fight for crypto.” In a post on X, Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi revealed that $1 million would be directed to the Freedom Fund PAC, while the company will increase its 2025 commitment to America First Digital to $1 million.
The announcement is a way to show that Kraken wants to more actively influence U.S. public policy on digital assets. They want to lobby behind issues like self-custody, privacy tools, and decentralized infrastructure, which they say face threats from regulatory uncertainty and efforts to restrict core crypto freedoms.
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Kraken frames the donations as strategic, principle-based contributions rather than partisan support. However, both recipient groups are considered aligned with Republican and pro-Trump causes.
Blurring of crypto & politics
This gift from Kraken comes at a moment when crypto-focused PACs are becoming more influential. Notably, the Freedom Fund PAC gained early attention through a $21 million Bitcoin donation from the Winklevoss twins earlier in 2025. According to Politico, PAC aims to support Republican candidates who align with a pro-crypto agenda.
Meanwhile, America First Digital is a crypto advocacy arm associated with more conservative political circles. Its leadership includes figures with prior involvement in Republican political operations and alliances to pro-crypto Republican senators. Over time, AFD has been positioned as a counterbalance to broader bipartisan crypto PACs like Fairshake, by focusing more narrowly on candidates aligned with a Trump-crypto agenda.
A landscape shift among political action committees
Pro-crypto advocates see it as a bold step toward bridging the gap between industry and policy, reinforcing that firms must engage politically if they want to protect their future. Critics, though, caution that linking crypto advocacy too closely to partisan politics risks alienating portions of the market and may undermine claims of neutrality. Some observers also question whether large donations like these will meaningfully shift regulatory outcomes, or simply deepen polarization around crypto policy in Washington.
