Ripple, the issuer of XRP, along with Tether and Coinbase, has been listed as a major donor for President Donald Trump's new $300 million White House ballroom project, sparking excitement within the XRP community and highlighting the growing political influence of cryptocurrency firms. The donor list, which includes about 40 entities such as Amazon, Apple, Google, and defense contractor Lockheed Martin, was revealed on October 24, 2025, with crypto companies making a prominent appearance for the first time on a high-profile White House registry.
The 90,000-square-foot ballroom, being built on the East Wing grounds, is entirely privately funded and began construction earlier in October 2025, with completion expected before the end of Trump's term. Crypto commentator Pumpius highlighted Ripple's inclusion in a social media post, noting that it has energized the XRP Army—a group of dedicated supporters—who view this as validation of Ripple's rising prominence and a potential catalyst for favorable cryptocurrency regulations. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse had previously met with Trump at a blockchain summit in March, strengthening ties, while Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has been actively lobbying for clearer crypto laws, recently stating that a new market structure bill is 90% complete.
However, the project faces criticism from Democrats, including Senator Elizabeth Warren and former Secretary Hillary Clinton, who raise concerns about pay-for-access politics and potential conflicts of interest. Preservation groups have filed lawsuits seeking to delay the construction, but analysts see the inclusion of crypto firms as a turning point, signaling that digital assets are no longer peripheral in U.S. policymaking and could benefit from a friendlier regulatory environment.
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