Several Minnesota political campaigns receive donations from Cryptocurrency leaders before collapse

(St. Paul, MN) -- Two leaders in cryptocurrency are among the donors to several Minnesota political campaigns.

Then-FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried and co-CEO Ryan Salame made the donations just before the collapse of their company. The donations were part of a nationwide effort before the midterm elections.

Campaign finance records show Democratic Congresswoman Angie Craig and Democratic Senator Tina Smith received donations from FTX. The group also gave more than 100-thousand dollars to the National Republican Congressional Committee chaired by Minnesota Congressman Tom Emmer.

Many who received the donations have donated the matching funds themselves to charities in the wake of the defunct crypto company going under.