While Washington and Beijing trade blows over tariffs and tech supremacy, legendary investor Tim Draper is focused on something far stranger — and, potentially, far more world-changing.
In a post on X, the billionaire behind Draper Associates doubled down on his conviction in “unconventional and world-shifting” ideas, including crypto. “We were among the first to believe in Bitcoin at Draper Associates and we’ve continued betting on the next generation of groundbreaking ideas since,” Draper wrote.
The U.S.-China trade war has escalated sharply, with both nations imposing steep tariffs on each other's goods. On April 11, China announced an increase in tariffs on U.S. imports from 84% to 125%, effective immediately.
This move was in direct response to President Donald Trump's earlier decision to raise tariffs on Chinese goods to a combined rate of 145%, citing trade imbalances and national security concerns. China's Ministry of Finance condemned the U.S. actions as "economic bullying" and filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization.
“Yes, we’re still big on crypto but we’re industry-agnostic by design,” Draper wrote. “If it’s unconventional and world-shifting — we’re in.”
He added that Draper Associates has also backed companies working on an artificial womb, a hypersonic spaceplane, and an AI-powered cancer treatment for pets.
“All our investments seem radical (we think they’re just rad) but could have real-world applications sooner than many folks may think is possible,” Draper wrote.
His point? Technologies that once seemed impossible — crypto, AI, autonomous vehicles — are now part of everyday life. And the next wave may be even weirder.
“Once upon a time, crypto had more than its fair share of doubters,” he noted. “The same goes for AI, self-driving cars, and numerous technologies that are now becoming commonplace. Today it’s Waymo, tomorrow it’s woolly mammoths.”
Bitcoin is trading higher today at $81,690, up 0.3%, per Kraken’s price feeds.