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FTX Exec’s Million-Dollar Donation In Vermont Shows Crypto Clout In Politics

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FTX Exec’s Million-Dollar Donation In Vermont Shows Crypto Clout In Politics


Becca Balint, a state senator working for Vermont’s sole seat within the U.S. Home of Representatives, acquired an surprising marketing campaign enhance one month earlier than major day: an oblique $1.1 million donation from a 26-year-old govt at crypto change FTX.

Balint gained the first earlier this month and is favored to win the November common election within the closely Democratic state. She could not have wanted the cash from Nishad Singh, FTX’s head of engineering, and perhaps didn’t need it. Her marketing campaign supervisor, Natalie Silver, informed Seven Days, an area newspaper in Vermont, that Balint’s workers didn’t work together with Singh. She known as the marketing campaign finance system that enables rich people to have an outsized influence on elections “dangerous for democracy.”

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That might be the case, but it surely was simply one other day on the workplace for FTX, the place political donations are widespread. The U.S. Federal Election Fee’s database of particular person contributions revealed 300 plus information of donations starting from $250 all the way in which to multi-million greenback contributions over the previous two years from FTX staff.

Cryptocurrency’s anti-establishment ethos attracts libertarian thinkers, however it’s also a sector dominated by a comparatively younger demographic, which generally leans Democratic. The result’s an business that doesn’t align neatly with both political occasion. At 30, Sam Bankman-Fried, the FTX CEO, is a younger billionaire who brazenly promotes a philosophy known as efficient altruism, which is about making selections primarily based on what’s going to do essentially the most good doable. His political focus has been on pandemic prevention, reflecting a utilitarian-leaning mindset.

“That is positively a brand new era, a brand new type of cohort, that is getting concerned politically, that has a heretofore unseen ideological make-up,” says Martin Dobelle, CEO of Interact Labs, an organization offering campaigns with instruments to simply accept cryptocurrency donations. “You see some people who find themselves extra libertarian economically, however are very progressive socially. So mixes that are not historically siloed into one occasion or the opposite.”

Naturally, the biggest contribution on file comes from Bankman-Fried — it’s a $10 million donation to the Defend Our Future fund, a political motion committee largely funded by the crypto billionaire and dedicated to electing candidates prioritizing pandemic prevention. Earlier this summer time, Bankman-Fried stated on the Pushkin Industries podcast that he deliberate to spend between $100 million and $1 billion on the 2024 U.S. presidential election campaigns. Whereas Bankman-Fried’s donations have trended towards Democrats, he has contributed to Republican campaigns as properly.

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Bankman-Fried additionally donated to Balint’s marketing campaign, instantly giving the utmost allowed, $2,900. As a result of Singh gave cash by way of a PAC, he was not topic to that limitation. On July 9, he contributed his $1.1 million to the LGBTQ Victory Fund Federal politicial motion committee, which subsequently spent $991,911 on an advert marketing campaign in assist of Balint, Balint is the primary girl and brazenly homosexual individual to function president professional tempore of the Vermont Senate.

How a lot the contribution helped Balint is open to debate. It got here a day after she drew an endorsement from Senator Bernie Sanders, an impartial with ties to the Democratic Social gathering, and Balint had already been main her largest challenger, Lieutenant Governor Molly Grey, who has criticized the PAC funding.

“I’ve been actually enthusiastic about Balint as a result of she’s a powerful proponent of pandemic prevention,” Singh stated in an announcement to Forbes. “Victory PAC wished to run an impartial expenditure to assist Balint, I wished to empower them to try this. My contribution right here was private and impartial from my position at FTX.”

The Victory Fund’s donor-fueled political spending is permitted because of a controversial Supreme Court docket choice in Residents United v. Federal Election Committee, which permits firms and non-campaign teams to endorse candidates and donate as much as $5,000 yearly, but in addition permits limitless “impartial expenditures” in assist or opposition of a candidate, so long as it’s accomplished independently from marketing campaign efforts.

Singh has contributed $7.9 million to democratic PACs together with Girls Vote!, Thoughts the Hole — a company led by Stanford College teachers utilizing Silicon Valley funds to assist democratic candidates — and the Senate Majority PAC. Major races are a first-rate goal for rich donors seeking to wield affect as a result of they’re usually nearer races and finally form Congress.

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“There’s extra of a chance in open races within the primaries to assist folks as a result of as soon as folks turn out to be incumbents they’ve an 80% re-election fee,” says Interact’s Dobelle. “I believe it is sensible, usually, for advocates and activists of all stripes to get entangled in major races.”

Bankman-Fried’s Defend Our Futures fund has spent $24 million contributing to 18 democratic major campaigns throughout the nation in 2022 as of July’s finish. In August, the PAC contributed simply over $1 million in assist of 4 Democratic major candidates. Nonetheless, Bankman-Fried isn’t the one FTX govt doling out giant sums to political causes: Ryan Salame, co-chief govt officer of FTX, and Zach Dexter, CEO of FTX Derivatives, have additionally contributed giant sums to campaigns and political motion committees.

The Interact Elevate platform lists 15 candidates accepting marketing campaign contributions within the type of cryptocurrencies. Eight are democrats, six are republican and one is from the United Utah Social gathering, a centrist political occasion solely lively in Utah.



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Vermont

VT Lottery Mega Millions, Gimme 5 results for May 23, 2025

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Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win

Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.

Just the FAQs, USA TODAY

The Vermont Lottery offers several draw games for those willing to make a bet to win big.

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Those who want to play can enter the MegaBucks and Lucky for Life games as well as the national Powerball and Mega Millions games. Vermont also partners with New Hampshire and Maine for the Tri-State Lottery, which includes the Mega Bucks, Gimme 5 as well as the Pick 3 and Pick 4.

Drawings are held at regular days and times, check the end of this story to see the schedule. Here’s a look at May 23, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Vermont Mega Millions numbers from May 23 drawing

07-18-40-55-68, Mega Ball: 18

Check Vermont Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Gimme 5 numbers from May 23 drawing

04-08-12-19-27

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Check Gimme 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life VT numbers from May 23 drawing

04-11-15-19-38, Lucky Ball: 04

Check Lucky For Life VT payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 23 drawing

Day: 4-1-7

Evening: 5-8-4

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Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 23 drawing

Day: 4-1-1-5

Evening: 7-2-0-5

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

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Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

For Vermont Lottery prizes up to $499, winners can claim their prize at any authorized Vermont Lottery retailer or at the Vermont Lottery Headquarters by presenting the signed winning ticket for validation. Prizes between $500 and $5,000 can be claimed at any M&T Bank location in Vermont during the Vermont Lottery Office’s business hours, which are 8a.m.-4p.m. Monday through Friday, except state holidays.

For prizes over $5,000, claims must be made in person at the Vermont Lottery headquarters. In addition to signing your ticket, you will need to bring a government-issued photo ID, and a completed claim form.

All prize claims must be submitted within one year of the drawing date. For more information on prize claims or to download a Vermont Lottery Claim Form, visit the Vermont Lottery’s FAQ page or contact their customer service line at (802) 479-5686.

Vermont Lottery Headquarters

1311 US Route 302, Suite 100

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Barre, VT

05641

When are the Vermont Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
  • Gimme 5: 6:55 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
  • Pick 3 Day: 1:10 p.m. daily.
  • Pick 4 Day: 1:10 p.m. daily.
  • Pick 3 Evening: 6:55 p.m. daily.
  • Pick 4 Evening: 6:55 p.m. daily.
  • Megabucks: 7:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

What is Vermont Lottery Second Chance?

Vermont’s 2nd Chance lottery lets players enter eligible non-winning instant scratch tickets into a drawing to win cash and/or other prizes. Players must register through the state’s official Lottery website or app. The drawings are held quarterly or are part of an additional promotion, and are done at Pollard Banknote Limited in Winnipeg, MB, Canada.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Vermont editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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Vermont’s state parks are offering free entry for income-eligible residents in 2025 – VTDigger

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Vermont’s state parks are offering free entry for income-eligible residents in 2025 – VTDigger


Paddleboats float on Echo Lake at Camp Plymouth State Park in Plymouth. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

More than 100,000 income-eligible residents are going to have free access to Vermont’s state parks this year, thanks to a first-in-the-nation pilot program.

The Park Access Fund Pilot Program will give people who receive benefits through the state’s Economic Services Division or the Women, Infants and Children program free entrance to any of Vermont’s 55 state parks during the season, which runs from May through October. 

To participate in the program, residents can show their EBT or WIC cards at the park entrance. Those who are eligible but do not have an EBT card can visit their local Economic Services Division District Office to request a card that can be used for state park entrance in 2025, according to the Park Access Fund website.

Once inside, all guests have the option to participate in free park-led activities, such as bird walks, concerts and evening campfires. The state parks events and programs page contains information on upcoming programming. 

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The initiative originated from an idea to bring park accessibility to Vermonters experiencing food insecurity, according to Sarah Alberghini Winters, the executive director of Vermont Parks Forever, which runs the program. 

This new program is an extension of the Parks Access Fund, which grants free park passes to 55 nonprofit community partners to help their clients get outside, according to Winters.

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Winters said she hopes this year’s expansion of the program is well-utilized. Depending on its success and donors’ willingness to support future efforts, the pilot program could continue in 2026 and beyond, she said. 

“It really takes a village,” Winters said. “We’re so thankful to have support from local and national foundations.”

Vermonters not eligible for this pilot program can also receive assistance accessing state parks through library passes and the Green Mountain Passport.

Financial barriers are not the only thing preventing some Vermonters from getting outside, Winters said, but this program is a starting point. She said her hope is that Vermont will set an example for other states to consider expanding programs for outdoor accessibility. 

“We’ll continue to learn about how we can help with other barriers that exist,” she said.

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Gov. Phil Scott signs Vermont lawmakers’ 2026 state budget proposal into law – VTDigger

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Gov. Phil Scott signs Vermont lawmakers’ 2026 state budget proposal into law – VTDigger


Gov. Phil Scott speaks during his weekly press conference at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Wednesday, May 14. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

MONTPELIER — Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signed lawmakers’ state budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year into law Wednesday. The plan lays out $9.01 billion in state spending for the yearlong period starting July 1 — and includes a handful of new measures designed to limit the impacts of potential cuts to the state’s federal funding. 

Scott, a Republican, was notably complimentary of the House and Senate’s budget bill in a letter to legislators that accompanied his signature. Democratic leadership in both chambers, knowing they almost certainly could not override a budget veto this year, trimmed tens of millions of dollars in proposed “base” spending — money expected to be appropriated year-over-year — from the legislation after Scott insisted on cuts. 

The governor had proposed an $8.99 billion state budget in January.

“I appreciate that this budget makes important affordability investments,” Scott wrote, pointing to lawmakers’ use of about $75 million from the state’s general fund that’s expected to help reduce the property tax bills people pay to support education. 

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Scott also complimented how lawmakers set aside about $13 million in the budget to offset a slate of proposed tax credits that would benefit low-income families, workers and veterans, as well as retirees and people receiving military pensions.

The credits are included in a separate bill, S.51, over which House and Senate leaders still need to work out their differences in a joint conference committee.

While the state budget is typically lawmakers’ last act before adjournment every year, this year, there are still several major bills working their way through the Statehouse that deal with some of the headline issues from last fall’s election. 

In his letter, the governor urged legislators to pass a version of this year’s landmark education reform bill, H.454. The bill is being debated on the Senate floor Thursday as school district leaders — and a number of senators themselves —  have panned the language that several of the chamber’s committees drafted in recent weeks.

Senators were weighing to what extent they should revise their version of the bill to be more in line with what passed out of the House last month. That version appeared to have more support among the members of the Senate’s Democratic majority. 

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Scott has threatened to use his power to summon lawmakers back to the Statehouse if they adjourn for the year without reaching agreement on an education bill. 

“While not perfect, (the budget bill) makes critical investments in affordability, housing, education and public safety,” the governor wrote Wednesday. “But we must focus on the policy bills that fix what’s broken so the funding can have its intended impact.”





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