U.S. President Donald Trump has seen a dramatic reversal of financial fortune since returning to office, with a growing business empire centered on cryptocurrency ventures.
According to a recent Financial Times investigation, Trump and his family have earned more than $1 billion in pre-tax profits over the past year from a network of digital asset projects, marking a remarkable turnaround from his reported cash troubles just a year earlier.
The FT report highlights that Trump’s newfound wealth stems largely from a series of opaque crypto-related businesses, including digital trading cards, memecoins, stablecoins, and decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, all marketed as being closely tied to the president and his family.
These ventures have attracted investments from billionaire backers, foreign entities, and even individuals previously scrutinized by U.S. authorities.
Trump’s administration has actively supported the digital asset sector, positioning him as what supporters call the “first crypto president.” His policies include mandating the creation of a national Bitcoin reserve, easing regulations on crypto companies, and appointing crypto-friendly officials to key financial agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Under the new leadership, several investigations into major crypto firms have reportedly been dropped.
The crypto-friendly stance has coincided with a surge in Bitcoin prices and renewed confidence among digital asset companies that had previously fled the U.S. during the Biden administration. Trump has publicly touted the sector’s growth, calling it “a really hot industry.”
However, ethics experts have voiced concern over the blurring of lines between Trump’s business and political interests.
Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer, told the FT that no U.S. president since the Civil War has maintained such extensive personal financial entanglements while in office, urging Trump to divest holdings that could pose conflicts of interest.