In a groundbreaking move, former U.S. President Donald J. Trump has announced that his campaign will accept donations in Bitcoin (BTC) and various other cryptocurrencies. This marks the first time a major party Presidential nominee has adopted cryptocurrency for fundraising, signaling a significant shift in political campaign strategies.

A New Era in Campaign Fundraising

The Trump campaign’s new initiative allows supporters to donate using popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Shiba Inu (SHIB). These contributions can be made through Coinbase Commerce, which facilitates the acceptance of multiple cryptocurrencies directly into a user-controlled wallet. This move is seen as a strategic expansion of the campaign’s digital fundraising efforts, promoting financial innovation and freedom.

Political Statement and Contrast

The campaign’s press release highlights this decision as a pioneering step in digital fundraising, emphasizing its significance compared to the stances of key Democratic figures. President Joe Biden and Senator Elizabeth Warren have both shown skepticism towards digital currencies, with Warren particularly vocal about the need for stringent regulation in the crypto sector. The press release pointedly contrasts their positions with Trump’s, portraying the adoption of crypto donations as a stand for financial autonomy.

Industry Support and Regulatory Compliance

David Bailey, CEO of Bitcoin Magazine, collaborated with the Trump campaign to develop their Bitcoin agenda. Bailey urged supporters to contribute the maximum individual amount in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies to validate this new approach. He expressed optimism about the impact of such contributions on the campaign’s direction and decision-making.

The Trump campaign has assured that all crypto donations will comply with Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulations, treating them as in-kind contributions similar to stock gifts. Donors can make their transactions through a designated page on Trump’s official campaign website.

Market Dynamics and Bitcoin Trading Trends

This announcement coincides with significant trends in Bitcoin trading. Recent data from Kaiko Research reveals that Bitcoin trading during U.S. market hours has surged, accounting for 46% of this year’s cumulative volume from January to April. This uptick is linked to the launch of spot-Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in January, which have drawn nearly $13 billion in net inflows since their debut.

The trading volume for Bitcoin during U.S. market hours has reached levels seen in 2022, while trading activity in Asian hours remains lower. This pattern underscores the growing influence of U.S. market activities on Bitcoin trading dynamics.

ETF Inflows and Market Performance

BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF has significantly contributed to this trend, making up 95% of the total inflow into U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs on a recent day. Preliminary data shows that BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust posted a large inflow of $290 million on May 21, the highest since early April. This resurgence in inflows suggests a renewed investor interest in Bitcoin ETFs, which have collectively recorded over $1 billion in inflows over the past four trading days.

Despite a recent dip below the $70,000 mark, Bitcoin remains above $69,000 and the 100-hour simple moving average, indicating potential for an upward trend. Analysts predict that Bitcoin could reach a new all-time high by the weekend, surpassing its previous peak of $73,798.