Howard Winklevoss Donates $4M in Bitcoin to Grove City College

In a groundbreaking move, Howard Winklevoss, the father of crypto pioneers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, has donated $4 million in bitcoin to Grove City College. This marks the college’s first-ever cryptocurrency donation. The funds will support new business programs, reflecting Winklevoss’s long-held belief in sound money principles, a concept he learned at Grove City under Austrian economist Hans Sennholz. His deep interest in economics would later influence Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of bitcoin.

Winklevoss’ ‘Eureka’ Moment

Howard Winklevoss revealed that his interest in bitcoin sparked when he grasped its potential as non-government digital money. “In short, sound money that works like email,” Winklevoss noted. He credits his exposure to the Austrian School of Economics, particularly the teachings of Hans Sennholz, for shaping his understanding of sound money. This economic philosophy laid the foundation for what he later saw in bitcoin.

Winklevoss first purchased bitcoin in 2013 and later expanded his investments to ether (ETH) and other crypto projects. When asked if his sons had introduced him to cryptocurrency, Tyler Winklevoss confirmed that they were responsible, saying, “We were definitely responsible for getting him into bitcoin.”

However, Tyler also reflected that his father’s influence was likely a major reason for their own early adoption. “He first discovered the principle of sound money when he studied at Grove City College, which also influenced Satoshi.”

The family connection to Grove City College has deep roots. Tyler reminisced how their father’s passion for sound money theories was a frequent topic of discussion at home. This constant exposure helped the twins appreciate bitcoin’s value. “For the Austrian school, the best form of money was gold, but it had issues like portability and security,” Tyler explained. Bitcoin, he added, solved these problems by becoming “not only an asset but also a network,” enabling quick, global transactions.

In addition to Howard’s notable academic career at Wharton and his entrepreneurial success, including selling Winklevoss Technologies for $125 million in 2023, this bitcoin gift cements his legacy. The Winklevoss family’s dedication to bitcoin will be commemorated this November when Grove City officially renames its business school the “Winklevoss School of Business.”