Donald Trump, master of political staging, found himself taken in his own game. Manipulated by a pro-XRP message, he became despite himself the main actor of an crypto lobbying operation. An explosive affair where political and interest blockchain influences collide in a scandal at the top.
In short
- A pro-XRP message published by Donald Trump was inspired by a lobbyist linked to Ripple.
- Ballard Partners is accused of taking advantage of its political access to promote its Crypto customers, including Ripple.
- The CEO of Ripple had opposed a 100 % bitcoin crypto reserve, raising the question of an indirect influence on presidential opinion.
Crypto: When Ripple Infilter Mar-A-Lago
It took only one post on Truth Social to shake the golden walls of Mar-A-Lago. Last March, a message published on Donald Trump's account proposed creating a Crypto strategic reserve to support certain companies in the sector, including Ripple Labs. A wink supported at XRP, Ripple's flagship cryptocurrency.
Behind this initiative? A Ballard Partners employee, lobbying cabinet with a sprawling address book. But what Trump was unaware is that Ripple was among the customers of the firm. And that this mention was not selfless support. The maneuver was neither more nor less than an investment operation of crypto product camouflaged in political message.
Donald Trump Furious: Ballard banished from the White House
The reaction was not long in coming. Once informed, Trump entered black anger. According to several sources close to the file, He felt manipulated. For him, Ballard had crossed the red line. Immediate result: the star lobbyist has been scratched circles of trust.
He is no longer welcome at the White House.
Decided a relative of the president.
For a man that was nicknamed the ” Trump Whisperer In Washington, the fall is brutal. Ballard Partners, which had surfed on the cryptocurrency wave to attract 130 customers and generate more than $ 14 million in revenues in the first quarter of 2025, sees its privileged access in power to collapse.
Crypto lobbying: poison or engine?
This affair greatly exceeds the Ballard case. She exhibits a disturbing truth: the crypto sector has become a playground for the most questionable behind -the -side maneuvers. This is not the first time that private interests have been trying to capture political attention via intermediaries. But here, the ploy is rude.
This coup de force by Ballard Partners, aimed at highlighting an influential crypto client, relaunches the debate on the independence of policies in the face of private interests. When a presidential message becomes a vector of influence for firms linked to cryptocurrencies, the border between public opinion and disguised promotion becomes vague. What remains of political integrity in this theater of influence?
The CEO of Ripple against Bitcoin maximalism: a timing that intrigues
Ripple, quoted in the message at the origin of the scandal, was not accused of being the instigator. But a fact deserves to be noted: as early as January, a month before the Trump post, Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, had publicly opposed the idea of a strategic reserve only made up of Bitcoin. He then pleaded for a more representative approach to the crypto ecosystem.
Simple coincidence? Should we see an indirect influence on lobbying circles close to the president? Or an opportunity seized by zealous relays to get an aligned message with this crypto vision? The case does not say everything, but the timing questions.
The Ballard-Ripple affair reveals the possible drifts of a cryptocurrency industry in search of institutional recognition. When lobbying is similar to a disguised marketing operation and even Donald Trump says she is betrayed, the question arises: can the crypto gain in credibility without giving up its autonomy to power games?
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