Coinbase, the well-known cryptocurrency exchange, has come out strongly in support of President Donald Trump’s $300 million White House ballroom project following the controversial demolition of the East Wing. Since September 2025, this project has drawn fire from preservationists and lawmakers due to the sudden dismantling of this structure built between 1942-1944.
Project Overview and Funding Solutions: An Analysis
The White House State Ballroom expansion project involves an approximately 90,000-square-foot expansion designed to host formal events such as state dinners with seating capacity for approximately 900 guests. It is being funded entirely through private donations from tech companies including Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft and Lockheed Martin as well as defense contractors such as Palantir Technologies and Palantir Technologies; according to The Guardian.
Coinbase’s involvement in this funding initiative has been confirmed; however, an exact figure has yet to be provided.
The Trust for the National Mall, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting and enhancing the National Mall and its monuments, is overseeing donations for this ballroom project. According to White House statements, no taxpayer funds will be utilized – all donations for it come directly from private donors, according to ABC News.
Controversy Surrounds the Demolition of East Wing
The demolition of the East Wing began on October 20, 2025 without prior public announcement and approval by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), the federal agency responsible for overseeing construction in Washington D.C. This move has caused considerable public outrage and controversy due to lack of proper communication from both agencies involved and unapproved actions taken on construction in DC.
President Trump justified the East Wing demolition by saying it had never been considered to be much. To “do it properly,” existing structures had to be disassembled for proper demolition, according to The Washington Post.
Critics contend that the demolition violated the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, which mandates federal agencies to assess how their undertakings will impact historic properties. As a result, The National Trust for Historic Preservation has called for a delay to this project due to loss of a significant historical structure, as expressed by Congressman Bennie Thompson (D).
Coinbase’s Response
Responding to criticism, Coinbase’s Chief Policy Officer Faryar Shirzad stated that his company is proud to have assisted in the construction of a new ballroom and pointed out that Coinbase does not manage or supervise construction activities directly. Shirzad further clarified that his firm should not be held liable for project progress while distancing itself from decisions regarding demolition and reconstruction processes through BitDegree.
Conclusion
The involvement of major corporations like Coinbase in funding the White House ballroom project illustrates the increasing intertwining between private enterprise and government infrastructure projects. While its goal is to modernize and provide a venue for large-scale events, its controversial demolition of the East Wing raises many important questions about historical preservation, transparency and donor influence in public projects.
