The Trump family has gained substantial financial returns from cryptocurrency ventures bearing President Donald Trump’s name or endorsements, even as many investors faced heavy losses. According to a Reuters investigation that examined extensive documents and blockchain data, the crypto tokens promoted by Trump and his family dramatically lost value, leaving buyers unable to recoup investments or exit positions.
While these digital assets declined, the Trump family managed to extract sizeable profits early on, exploiting their political prominence. The influx of funds into crypto projects linked to Trump intensified around the 2024 election, coinciding with the family’s active promotion of tokens like the $TRUMP meme coin and governance tokens under their company, World Liberty Financial.
The crypto ventures continued a pattern familiar from Trump’s previous business practices: leveraging his personal brand to license products with minimal personal financial risk. In contrast to past physical goods bearing his name—ranging from mattresses to Bibles—the foray into NFTs and cryptocurrencies marked a strategic entry into digital markets. For instance, during 2022, Trump sold NFTs priced at $99 each featuring his image, creating early revenue before the broader market decline impacted the tokens’ value.
Reuters noted that while the market for these cryptocurrency offerings collapsed, the Trump family’s financial gains remained substantial. Investors who trusted Trump’s brand were left holding depreciated assets with little hope of profit. The report underlines a broader concern about the lack of regulatory oversight in crypto markets, which allowed these transactions to proceed unchecked despite their predatory aspects.
The White House did not respond directly to Reuters' findings but issued a statement asserting that all actions by President Trump and his administration serve the public interest. Meanwhile, the Trump sons, Eric and Donald Jr., played key roles in boosting the crypto business, helping to draw significant investment into their associated firms in the run-up to and following the 2024 election. This influx generated a considerable cash stream for the family, contrasting sharply with the financial experience of ordinary investors.