Catenaa, Saturday, June 21, 2025- Crypto exchange Coinbase is facing sharp criticism after emerging as a high-profile sponsor of President Donald Trump’s military parade in Washington on June 14, an event marking the US Army’s 250th anniversary and coinciding with Trump’s 79th birthday.
The sponsorship sparked backlash across social media, where users posted videos showing Coinbase branding at the event. Critics accused the company of compromising its previously stated commitment to political neutrality.
Prominent crypto figure Adam Cochran announced he would divest his holdings in Coinbase, calling the move “gross” and “bad marketing” for mainstream digital assets.
“If you told me a few years ago Coinbase would be a sponsor to a US military parade, I’d think you were insane,” one user posted on X.
Coinbase was named a sponsor in a June 9 release by America250, the group organizing the parade. Other sponsors included defense contractors Lockheed Martin and Palantir, along with FedEx.
President Trump used the occasion to praise the US military, calling it “the greatest, fiercest, and bravest fighting force” in the world. “Every other country celebrates their victories. It’s about time America did too,” he said.
However, the event drew protests nationwide. Demonstrators rallied under the slogan “No King,” opposing what they saw as authoritarian symbolism. Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized the event’s tone, writing, “This country doesn’t belong to a king. It’s a democracy, and it belongs to the people.”
