MI-GOV: Michigan governor hopeful discloses $800K bitcoin gift from a 'friend' [View all]

Lansing — Longtime Pastor Ralph Rebandt, a Republican who's running to be Michigan's next governor, says he received a gift of bitcoin worth $800,000 from a friend who wants to remain anonymous.

Rebandt listed $800,000 in income from the sale of bitcoin on a personal financial disclosure he filed last week with the Secretary of State's Office. He described the source of the bitcoin as a "gift from a long-time friend."

Bridge Michigan first reported the disclosure.

Rebandt was inside the Michigan Capitol on Wednesday and told The Detroit News he would only release the name of the person who gave him the bitcoin gift if the person agreed to be identified. The gift had "no strings attached," Rebandt said.


https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2026/05/20/ralph-rebandt-candidate-michigan-governor-discloses-800000-bitcoin-gift/90177780007/