Coinbase Among 37 Donors to $400M White House Ballroom Renovation Project
Coinbase is among 37 donors to Trump’s planned $400 million White House ballroom renovation, contributing through a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Ethics watchdogs flagged potential conflicts of interest as firms with federal business back the project, prompting the National Capital Planning Commission to delay its final vote after over 35,000 public comments.
1. White House Ballroom Project
The Trump administration’s presidential ballroom expansion has grown from an original $200 million plan to a $400 million, 90,000-square-foot facility funded entirely by private donations through the Trust for the National Mall. A list of 37 donors includes major corporations and cryptocurrency firms such as Coinbase, Ripple and Tether.
2. Commission Approval and Delay
The Commission of Fine Arts approved the ballroom design unanimously, 6–0, following a membership overhaul by presidential appointees. Meanwhile, the National Capital Planning Commission postponed its final vote to April 2 after receiving more than 35,000 public comments, the majority opposing the project.
3. Ethics and Conflict Concerns
Ethics watchdogs noted that several corporate donors hold significant federal contracts or face government investigations, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest and the influence of private funding on a high-profile presidential construction project.