How the Trump family made billions from the presidency

How the Trump family made billions from the presidency – thanks to cryptocurrencies

During his first term, Donald Trump called bitcoin «a piece of cake.» Five years later, the same man declares that the United States will become «the crypto capital of the world» and that America will become «the greatest bitcoin power in the world.» The shift in attitude is not just political. It is also economic, and it seems, extremely profitable.

An international investigation revealed that the Trump family has reaped at least 1 billion dollars from business activities related to cryptocurrencies. These profits come from four main sources: the newly formed company World Liberty Financial, two memecoins ($TRUMP and $MELANIA), as well as a stablecoin issued by the same company. This amount is considered a conservative estimate, as there are other activities that were not included in the calculations.

The World Liberty Financial was created about 50 days before the election, following a Twitter/X online event where Trump and his sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, presented a new «economic revolution.» At the time, no one knew exactly what the company would offer. Today, its digital token has yielded approximately 550 million dollars, while the remaining profits come from memecoins and the stablecoin, which yields about 42 million per year through investments in US government bonds.

This practice is radically different from that of previous presidents. Jimmy Carter sold his peanut farm to avoid a conflict of interest, while George W. Bush gave up his membership in the Texas Rangers. Most presidents in recent decades have placed their assets in a «blind trust.» Trump, by contrast, he never retired from his business, maintaining an active presence in companies that were directly affected by government decisions.

In his interview, the Eric Trump He argued that decentralized finance is «the future» and that crypto investments are a perfect complement to the family’s traditional business profile. He admitted that these companies are «extremely profitable,» but denied that they are connected to his father’s political influence. However, the evidence suggests that the Trump family was not the only one to benefit.

The second part of the research examines the major donors of the president and the benefits they secured after their contributions. At least thirty companies and individuals, who donated a total of 116 million dollars in organizations affiliated with Trump, it seems they received preferential treatment: cessation of investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission, regulatory relief or even presidential pardons.

For example, the Changpeng Zhao, co-founder of Binance, was pardoned for money laundering in 2024, shortly after Binance invested $2 billion in World Liberty Financial’s stablecoin. The twins Winklevoss, founders of Gemini Exchange, donated $3 million to pro-Trump committees and, within weeks, the SEC closed its multi-year investigation into them. Gemini is now listed on the Nasdaq with a market cap of $2.5 billion and partners with cryptocurrency mining companies associated with the Trump family.

The White House has vehemently denied the charges of kickbacks, saying that cryptocurrency policies are aimed at boosting innovation and the American economy. Eric Trump insists that the family would be «many times richer» if they had not gotten involved in politics and faced so many lawsuits.

Despite the data, public opinion seems to be oblivious to the magnitude of the gains. In a recent poll, more than half of Trump voters believe he has made less than $100 million, while a third believe he has made nothing. 40% says he has never even heard of memecoins.

Politically, the damage is limited. Cryptocurrencies have gained positive symbolism among right-wing voters, as a sign of independence and innovation. But in the business world, there is growing concern that those who do not maintain a close relationship with the White House may be left out of the game.

The Trump family has managed to turn political power into billion investment tool. Whether this will be recorded as a scandal or as a strategic success of American entrepreneurship, time will tell.

Michalis Flambouraris Retsina

Sources

• Reuters, «Inside the Trump family's global crypto cash machine,» October 28, 2025
• Financial Times, «How the Trump companies made $1bn from crypto», October 28, 2025