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Big donors, big infrastructure: OpenAI and Crypto.com help power MAGA Inc. fundraising as AI policy stakes rise

Large political donations from tech and crypto executives are drawing renewed attention as the Trump-aligned fundraising machine takes in major checks from industry figures with significant exposure to federal policy.

Since the start of July 2025, three donors accounted for more than half of the fundraising haul for MAGA Inc., the super PAC tied to President Donald Trump’s political network. Among them was OpenAI President and co-founder Greg Brockman, who donated $25 million. Foris DAX Inc., the operator of the Crypto.com exchange, donated $20 million, and private equity investor Konstantin Sokolov contributed $11 million.

The donations land amid an environment in which Trump has backed policies that critics say allow the crypto and broader tech industries to grow with relatively light oversight. The alignment is being described as mutually beneficial, while also prompting concern among some conservatives about the influence of corporate and tech money in politics.

For OpenAI, the policy landscape is particularly consequential. Federal decisions affect how the company sells and deploys ChatGPT, how it navigates AI rules that could shape labor markets, and how it funds and permits the data center expansion required to run modern AI systems. OpenAI has benefited from a light-touch approach so far, though proposed cuts to green energy production could complicate parts of its data center buildout.

The company’s capital needs are substantial. SoftBank agreed in March to invest up to $40 billion into a for-profit subsidiary of OpenAI, structured as direct capital alongside syndicated co-investment from other backers. OpenAI has also made more than $1.4 trillion in infrastructure commitments over the coming years, including agreements with Nvidia, AMD and Broadcom.

One centerpiece of the infrastructure push is Stargate, a data center joint venture involving SoftBank, OpenAI and Oracle. The project was publicly announced by Trump in January as part of a broader effort to build AI infrastructure in conjunction with the U.S. government, with a stated investment target of up to $500 billion.

Because data centers require large, stable power supplies and permitted sites, the buildout depends heavily on government policy. OpenAI has lobbied the Trump administration to expand CHIPS Act tax credits to cover AI data centers. Separately, when OpenAI’s CFO floated the idea of a government “backstop” for infrastructure loans at a Wall Street Journal event in November, the backlash was swift enough that the idea was walked back within hours.

The political and capital intensity of AI is unfolding alongside growing competition for talent and increasing scrutiny of AI risks. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly offered packages worth hundreds of millions—and in some cases up to $1 billion—to recruit top specialists, contributing to high-profile departures from OpenAI. OpenAI is also hiring a Head of Preparedness role listed at $555,000 plus equity, reflecting internal focus on security vulnerabilities and broader model impact concerns.

In the background, private-market funding for AI remains massive. In 2025, venture capital invested $150 billion into major AI startups such as OpenAI and Anthropic, even as public-market investors voiced concern about frothy valuations in parts of the generative AI sector.

The convergence of political fundraising, infrastructure spending, and policy influence is now becoming a political issue in its own right. Senator Chris Murphy argued that Democrats have a political opportunity to highlight what he described as “AI billionaires” aligning closely with the Trump administration.

• What happened: MAGA Inc. received major donations from OpenAI’s Greg Brockman ($25M), Crypto.com operator Foris DAX ($20M), and Konstantin Sokolov ($11M).
• Why it matters: Federal policy directly affects AI and crypto regulation, data center permitting and power access, and the economics of large-scale AI deployment.
• Broader context: AI infrastructure spending is accelerating through projects like Stargate, while competition for talent and scrutiny of AI risks intensify.