- U.S. media outlets Reuters and Common Dreams are scrutinizing Trump’s $800M crypto ventures
- Reuters reports the Trump family earned over $800M in 2025, largely from WLFI token sales
- Ethics experts warn the ventures are ‘legal but questionable’ and raise conflict-of-interest concerns
Leading news agencies scrutinized Donald Trump’s fast-growing crypto footprint this week, reporting large token proceeds, foreign investors, and new ventures that test the line between political power and private profit.
Reports from Reuters and Common Dreams suggest the Trump family’s business empire has become increasingly reliant on digital assets, prompting questions about transparency, governance, and potential conflicts of interest.
A Reuters investigation published October 28 found that the Trump family earned over $800 million from crypto-related ventures in 2025. Much of that income came from the sale of World Liberty (WLFI) tokens, a digital asset marketed by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.
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The other projects include a meme coin, TRUMP. The tokens were presented as part of a plan to build a global financial ecosystem, though the core technology remains largely untested.
While the Reuters report did not allege illegality, it noted that many WLFI tokens were sold to overseas buyers through crypto wallets with limited traceability. Analysts interviewed by the outlet said the lack of transparency and the overlap between politics and private enterprise raise governance concerns.
Foreign Investors and Limited Oversight
Investigations found that a large portion of WLFI token purchases came from foreign investors. Among the top 50 holders, over two-thirds are reportedly based overseas, collectively owning more than $800 million worth of tokens.
This heavy foreign participation has led analysts to question whether foreign financial interests could indirectly gain leverage through Trump-linked assets.
‘Legal But Questionable,’ Say Critics
Although Trump family representatives defended the venture as a legitimate business project, experts described it as a “legal but ethically questionable” enterprise due to its structure favoring insider profits.
World Liberty’s activities also reach into the stablecoin market via a digital asset called USD1, managed by an affiliate entity that shares profits with Trump-related operations.
In one highlighted case, a firm used USD1 to buy a $2 billion stake in Binance, creating an indirect link between Trump’s ecosystem and the world’s largest crypto exchange.
These connections suggest World Liberty is evolving into a global network that could challenge existing financial transparency standards and U.S. ethics laws.
Prediction Markets Come To Truth Social
In a separate report, Common Dreams detailed plans for a new digital betting platform, “Truth Predict,” expected to launch within the Trump-owned Truth Social network.
The platform, in partnership with Crypto.com, will allow users to place bets on political, economic, and sporting events using cryptocurrency.
Proponents call this a bold fusion of social media and decentralized finance. However, critics argue that it presents a serious conflict of interest, particularly if Trump or his allies can influence the very events being bet on. The project, they warn, risks turning political developments into speculative financial instruments.
Technology writer Mike Masnick noted that allowing bets on events controlled by a sitting or former president introduces “unprecedented conflict-of-interest concerns.”
Donald Trump Jr. also appears deeply embedded in the prediction market scene, holding advisory positions at platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket.
His venture capital firm is reportedly an investor in Polymarket itself. These overlapping roles have raised concerns that the Trump family could personally profit from market trends shaped by their own political messaging.
Ethical and Regulatory Concerns
Ethics experts have warned that Trump-linked tokens and platforms create potential avenues for corruption and favoritism. Investors purchasing WLFI or participating in Truth Predict might assume they will gain advantages if Trump or his allies return to power.
This perception, analysts note, underscores the need for clearer boundaries between political influence and private enterprise.
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Regulatory agencies may soon face pressure to intervene. The combination of crypto trading, prediction markets, and political branding falls into a gray area of U.S. law.
Legal observers suggest future investigations could test the reach of securities, gambling, and campaign finance regulations in this new digital frontier.
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