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The Trump family financial ventures have taken a significant turn towards the cryptocurrency market. Reportedly, the Trumps are adding roughly $1.3 billion to their wealth in recent weeks through two primary projects: World Liberty Financial (WLFI) and American Bitcoin (ABTC). ]
This new financial landscape is drawing both investor interest and intense scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest as the family expands its crypto footprint while Donald Trump holds the presidency.
Trump Family Ventures in WLFI and ABTC
WLFI, a decentralized finance platform launched by the Trump brothers and Barron Trump, is estimated to have generated about $5 billion in paper gains for the family following its token debut on September 1st, 2025. The Trump family reportedly controls roughly a quarter of the WLFI tokens and receives 75% of token sale proceeds. However, founder tokens remain locked and untradable, meaning this wealth exists primarily on paper for now. The company’s recent $1.5 billion deal with public company Alt5 Sigma further boosted its profile.
Meanwhile, American Bitcoin (ABTC), a Bitcoin mining company 20% owned by the Trump family (with Hut 8 Mining retaining an 80% stake), saw its stock surge by over 100% on its Nasdaq debut after merging with Gryphon Digital Mining on September 3rd, 2025. Eric Trump’s stake alone was briefly valued close to $1 billion. The company aims to accumulate Bitcoin through mining and strategic purchases, with Hut 8 providing infrastructure. ABTC also raised $220 million from investors including the Winklevoss twins.
Blurring Lines: Politics and Profit
The ventures are benefiting from the Trump family’s active promotion of crypto-friendly policies, including President Trump signing the GENIUS Act into law, which regulates stablecoins. Critics argue this creates a conflict of interest, potentially allowing the family to profit from policies enacted by the administration. The White House, however, denies any conflicts and states that a trust overseen by the President’s children manages the investments.
Democratic lawmakers and ethics watchdogs have raised further concerns, suggesting that foreign entities could use the projects to gain influence or access to the administration.
They point to potentially lax regulations and a shift from Trump’s previous skepticism towards cryptocurrencies as evidence of a concerning trend. The Trump family’s ventures have even reportedly derailed bipartisan support for the GENIUS Act by pushing for weaker regulations.
The market performance of these politically-branded tokens, like WLFI and the Trump meme coin ($TRUMP), which also saw volatility but gained value after Trump announced a dinner contest for top holders, highlights a broader trend in the altcoin market. These projects leverage visibility and narrative in a market often driven by speculation.
Despite the excitement, experts caution about the inherent volatility of altcoins, evolving regulations, and the potential for political backlash. The merging of business and politics in the crypto space is creating a powerful, yet potentially problematic, combination under the Trump administration.
