Kraken Bets Big on Wyoming Newborns
Kraken, the Wyoming-based cryptocurrency exchange, is making headlines with its latest initiative: sponsoring Trump Accounts for every child born in Wyoming in 2026.
Kraken’s co-CEO Dave Ripley confirmed that the company will provide additional funding to these accounts, though the exact amount remains undisclosed. The announcement underscores Kraken’s decision to make Wyoming its global headquarters, citing the state’s favorable regulatory environment for digital assets. Notably, Wyoming enabled Kraken to become the first Special Purpose Depository Institution in the U.S., a regulatory status that allows crypto firms to operate more like banks.
On paper, this is a windfall for newborns in Wyoming; in practice, it also signals how major crypto players are seeking to shape financial infrastructure at the earliest stages of life.
Unanswered Questions on Funding Details
While families and outside entities can contribute to Trump Accounts beyond the initial $1,000 government seed, it remains unclear whether Kraken’s sponsorship will match that figure or take another form. There is also uncertainty about whether these accounts will be invested directly in cryptocurrencies or held as cash until children turn 18. This ambiguity leaves families and observers waiting for specifics from both Kraken and policymakers.
Transparency on these points could determine whether Trump Accounts become a meaningful entry point into crypto for a new generation—or remain a symbolic gesture.
See Also
Trump-Backed Bitcoin Firm Hits 6,000 BTC
Meanwhile, American Bitcoin Corp. (ABTC), which counts members of the Trump family among its backers, has surpassed 6,000 BTC in reserves according to blockchain data tracked by Arkham Intelligence. As of early February 2026, ABTC holds approximately 6,060 BTC—valued near $413 million at current prices—after adding or mining about 217 BTC over the past month. This places ABTC among the top 20 largest public bitcoin holders globally; for comparison, Galaxy Digital holds around 6,894 BTC.
The company’s shares have reflected this activity but not without volatility: after trading above $2 in January 2026, ABTC shares closed last Friday at roughly $1.14—a drop of about 45% year-to-date despite a reported bitcoin yield of approximately 116% since its Nasdaq debut in September 2025 through late January 2026.
This market movement highlights both opportunity and risk in tying corporate fortunes so closely to bitcoin reserves.
World Liberty Forum: Crypto Meets Politics
The Trump family is set to host a high-profile crypto industry event at Mar-a-Lago on February 18: the World Liberty Forum. This gathering will bring together CEOs from Coinbase, BitGo, Franklin Templeton, and Goldman Sachs alongside FIFA’s president and celebrities like Nicki Minaj and Kevin O’Leary. With only 300 attendees—described as “global leaders”—the event reflects an effort to bridge traditional finance with decentralized finance platforms.
World Liberty Financial, founded in 2024 by Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Barron Trump, Zach Witkoff and Alex Witkoff (with Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump listed as emeritus co-founders), positions itself as both a DeFi platform and stablecoin issuer. The timing comes amid ongoing Democratic investigations and after a $2 trillion market downturn—factors likely to influence discussion topics at Mar-a-Lago.
Why it matters
Kraken’s sponsorship of Trump Accounts links newborn financial security directly to crypto industry engagement—and could make Wyoming’s youngest citizens early participants in digital asset markets if contributions are ultimately allocated toward cryptocurrencies rather than cash. For parents considering long-term savings options starting in 2025 or later, this partnership may offer unique upside—but also exposes families to questions about volatility and regulatory change over an eighteen-year horizon.
At the same time, American Bitcoin Corp.’s accumulation of over $400 million worth of bitcoin shows how political affiliations and corporate strategy are converging around digital assets at scale. The World Liberty Forum’s lineup—featuring figures from banking giants to pop stars—suggests that crypto is now firmly embedded within mainstream economic and cultural debates. As reported by dlnews.com, this intersection between politics and crypto finance is no longer theoretical: it is playing out in real-time across boardrooms and legislative chambers alike.
What Stands Out
- •Kraken will sponsor Trump Accounts for every child born in Wyoming in 2026, as confirmed by co-CEO Dave Ripley.
- •Each Trump Account receives a $1,000 federal seed for children born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028; Kraken’s contribution amount is undisclosed.
- •American Bitcoin Corp., backed by the Trump family, holds 6,060 BTC (about $413 million) as of February 2026.
What remains to be seen
Whether Kraken will match the $1,000 federal contribution or invest Trump Accounts for Wyoming newborns in crypto or cash remains unclear, and if this is clarified before the World Liberty Forum at Mar-a-Lago on February 18, it would immediately signal the extent of direct crypto exposure for eligible families in 2026.