Trump’s Crypto Empire: How the Presidency Became a Revenue Engine

In October 2025, an Australian investigative program dropped a bombshell: while publicly claiming to have stepped back from his business interests, Donald Trump and his family have quietly leveraged the powers of the presidency to supercharge their crypto and business ventures. The revelations lay bare a high-stakes gamble — and possibly constitutional peril — at the intersection of politics, profits, and digital currencies.

From “I don’t do crypto” to Meme‑Coin Mogul

Not long ago, Donald Trump dismissed Bitcoin as a “scam.” Yet by May of the 2024 campaign, he was courting crypto lobbyists and declaring a pro-crypto platform if re-elected. The pivot, as reported, was not ideological — it aligned with a new business model engineered by his inner circle. In September 2025, the Trump family launched World Liberty Financial, a platform tied to a “meme coin” called $TRUMP.

The coin formally debuted just three days before Trump’s inauguration. One of its features: the Trump family takes a cut of each trade — reportedly 75 percent of sales profits. Trading fees alone reportedly generated some $320 million within months, and a later token sale brought in $550 million, with an estimated $390 million flowing to the Trump family.

By design, the coin also confers premium access: holders of the top $TRUMP balances were invited to a gala in Virginia with Trump himself, effectively buying proximity with status.

Blurred Lines: Business, Power & Political Leverage

The central critique is that Trump has crossed a line few presidents have ever approached — using the trappings of public office to fuel private gain. His defenders point out that the president’s assets were placed into a trust run by his sons. But critics argue that such a setup doesn’t shield one from conflicts when policy decisions, regulatory oversight, or foreign deals overlap with family profits.

A particularly stark example: the United Arab Emirates’ state investment arm, MGX, invested $2 billion in Binance via a World Liberty Financial token. The Trump family stood to benefit in the tens of millions. Shortly thereafter, Trump made a shift in U.S. foreign policy, approving sales of advanced AI chips to the UAE — previously restricted under the Biden administration. While there is no definitive proof of a quid pro quo, the timing and circles involved raise serious questions.

At the same time, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) litigation against crypto flaws—like the one involving crypto billionaire Justin Sun—has at least temporarily stalled. Sun himself invested $75 million in the $TRUMP system before and around inauguration day, which delivered significant returns to the Trump side.

Amid this, former SEC advisor Corey Frayer has warned that crypto’s opaque nature makes it a potential vehicle for influence-peddling.

Ethics, Legality — or Just Norms?

Is any of this illegal? Under current U.S. law, there is no blanket prohibition on presidents or their families earning money while in office. But ethics advisors warn that the “classical definition of corruption” — using public office for private gain — might well apply here.

Norm Eisen, former ethics counsel under Obama, calls Trump “the most corrupt president … in the modern era,” arguing that the scale of overlap between Trump’s presidency and his business interests is unprecedented.

Still, defenders argue that other presidents have benefited from favorable policies or tax changes. The difference, they say, is that Trump’s entanglements are far more direct and transparent — and therefore more vulnerable to abuse.

Implications for Democracy and the Crypto Space

Trump’s foray into crypto may represent more than a pecuniary windfall — it could reshape expectations around governance and regulatory norms. If crypto can be used to funnel resources and access to a president’s inner circle, questions of influence, oversight, and accountability escalate dramatically.

For the industry, Trump’s endorsement gives it a veneer of legitimacy — but also draws increased scrutiny. Regulators like the SEC would be under pressure to police potential conflicts, market manipulation, and financial integrity.

Internationally, the UAE-crypto link hints at new frontiers for geopolitics, where digital finance becomes one more lever in statecraft and investment.