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August 20, 2025

Blog Post Campaign FinanceCryptocurrencyTrump 2.0

Oligarchs and the Trump Admin: John Wu

Since 2020, John Wu has served as president of the crypto company Ava Labs. On April 2, 2025, Ava Labs donated $1 million to MAGA Inc, President Trump’s Super PAC. According to the New York Times, the donation got Wu a spot at a fundraising event just two days later—a “candlelight dinner” featuring Trump as a guest speaker.

August 15, 2025 | Watchdog Weekly

Emma Marsano

Newsletter Corruption CalendarTech

Corruption Calendar Week 30: The Value of Trump’s Grifts

With the National Guard haunting the streets of Washington, D.C., it’s been an ominous week. DC takeover aside, the most immediately visible expressions of Trump’s efforts to consolidate and expand his power are: the administration’s ongoing multi-pronged efforts to let corporations break the law with impunity while raking in record profits; a new shakedown tactic to secure a cut of technology sales to China; and an attack on the research grant process, which is critical to scientific pursuits across the country. 

August 14, 2025

KJ Boyle

Blog Post Campaign FinanceCryptocurrencyFinancial RegulationFintech

Oligarchs and the Trump Admin: Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss are billionaires who made their initial fortune from a 2004 lawsuit against Mark Zuckerberg, accusing him of stealing their idea in the creation of Facebook. The Winklevoss twins have since expanded their fortunes through an $11 million purchase of Bitcoin in 2013, founding the venture capital firm Winklevoss Capital, and founding cryptocurrency exchange Gemini. In June 2024, the Winklevoss’ each tweeted an endorsement of Trump’s candidacy and donated $1 million in bitcoin to his campaign.