FT Expose: Inside Trump’s $1 Billion Crypto Empire, and the Policies Powering It

Edyme

October 16, 2025

According to the FT report, the TRUMP and MELANIA coins alone generated about $427 million in revenue from trading and transaction fees

Donald Trump’s financial story over the past year has taken quite an interesting turn, from warning of a possible “fire sale” of his real estate assets to leading one of the most profitable crypto operations in the world.

According to a Financial Times investigation, the Trump family’s ventures in digital assets, tokens, and decentralized finance platforms have reportedly generated over $1 billion in pre-tax profits within a single year.

These gains come amid an administration that has positioned itself as openly supportive of the cryptocurrency industry, reversing Washington’s previous cautious approach.

The rise of Trump’s crypto network

Trump’s renewed wealth isn’t limited to political power or merchandise sales, though he’s made millions from branded items like sneakers and Bibles.

However, FT report shows that the core of his recent earnings lies in a sprawling network of crypto projects spanning memecoins, stablecoins, DeFi platforms, and token ventures.

His family’s enterprises, including those linked to his sons and long-time allies, have launched multiple tokens marketed under the Trump brand.

According to the FT report, the TRUMP and MELANIA coins alone generated about $427 million in revenue from trading and transaction fees.

Another venture, World Liberty Financial, founded by Trump’s sons alongside Steve Witkoff’s family, raised roughly $550 million through the sale of its governance token, WLFI, and sold $2.71 billion worth of its USD1 stablecoin.

While not all of those stablecoin sales count as profit, the company reportedly earned tens of millions in interest on assets held to back USD1’s value.

The family’s involvement stretches deep. Trump’s Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), best known for running Truth Social, pivoted into crypto investments earlier this year, raising billions to acquire digital assets and launch Bitcoin funds.

With Trump personally owning around 53% of TMTG, his net worth has surged alongside crypto’s rally.

Eric Trump, when asked about the FT’s profit figures, told reporters the actual amount was “probably more,” noting that the family turned to crypto after claiming traditional banks had “debanked” their businesses.

The shift has proven lucrative, boosted by Trump’s own policy decisions encouraging a friendlier regulatory space for crypto players.

Policy, power, and the crypto presidency

Since returning to the White House, Trump has branded himself the “first crypto president.” He backed policies to integrate crypto into the U.S. financial system, from establishing a national Bitcoin reserve to allowing Americans to invest part of their retirement savings in digital assets.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), now under new leadership, has dropped or settled cases against several major crypto firms including Coinbase, Ripple Labs, and Consensys.

These moves, combined with an easing of enforcement by the Justice Department, have been welcomed by industry leaders. Crypto firms like Coinbase, Ripple, and Circle have also contributed millions to Trump’s campaign and inauguration funds.

Meanwhile, the sector’s rebound has helped push Bitcoin and other assets to record highs in 2025, reigniting enthusiasm among investors who fled U.S. markets during the previous administration.

Ethics experts, however, see Trump’s direct financial involvement in the same industry his administration regulates as historically unusual.

Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, noted that “every other president since the Civil War has avoided significant financial conflicts.”

Unlike prior presidents who used blind trusts, Trump’s assets remain in a revocable trust managed by his son, meaning he retains full access once out of office.

Despite criticism, Trump’s alignment with the crypto sector has strengthened his political base. Industry figures like the Winklevoss twins and Justin Sun have publicly supported his administration, with Sun reportedly investing $75 million into World Liberty Financial before the SEC paused its fraud case against him earlier this year.

Foreign investors have also entered the mix. The Abu Dhabi-owned MGX fund purchased $2 billion worth of a Trump-backed stablecoin, while other firms from China and the UAE have reportedly invested hundreds of millions in Trump-affiliated crypto projects.

Domestically, Trump’s campaign and associated political action committees have received at least $41 million in crypto-linked donations in 2025 alone.

As the administration continues to push for broader crypto adoption, through deregulation, pro-mining policies, and public-private partnerships, Trump’s personal financial stake remains at the center of the conversation.

Supporters argue it reflects his commitment to boosting innovation in a sector long criticized by Washington. Critics counter that it blurs the lines between governance and private gain.

For now, what’s clear is that Trump’s pivot to crypto has reshaped both his fortune and the broader political space surrounding digital assets.

Whether this convergence of presidency and profit will redefine America’s relationship with crypto, or invite deeper scrutiny, remains an open question in an already volatile market.