- Trump-linked crypto ventures generated $2.3B for the family as investors faced nearly equal losses.
- World Liberty Financial became the biggest revenue source, while token holders remained locked in.
- The $TRUMP meme coin earned millions for insiders, but many investors saw steep losses after the hype faded.
A Reuters investigation found that crypto ventures linked to President Donald Trump and his family generated at least $2.3 billion for the family, while investors in those projects collectively lost a similar amount by the end of April.
The report examined four Trump-backed ventures: World Liberty Financial, the $TRUMP meme coin, American Bitcoin, and AI Financial Corp. According to Reuters, the projects generated revenue through token sales, licensing agreements, and branding deals tied to the Trump name, even as many investors faced losses following declines in token and share prices.
Many investors entered the ventures during a broader cryptocurrency rally and amid expectations that a Trump administration would take a more favorable approach toward digital assets. By the end of April, however, Reuters found that losses across the investor base had largely matched the gains generated for the Trump family.
World Liberty Becomes a Billion-Dollar Revenue Source
World Liberty Financial emerged as the largest Trump-linked crypto venture. The project raised more than $1.4 billion through governance token sales. Moreover, Reuters estimates show the Trump family received over $1.6 billion from the platform through revenue-sharing arrangements and related activities.
Many investors expected to be able to trade or cash out once the tokens began trading. Instead, World Liberty restricted sales and later approved a proposal extending lockups until 2030. That has left many holders unable to access most of their investments as prices have fallen.
One investor described the lockup as “a complete sham” and said the project ignored community concerns. World Liberty has maintained that its tokens are not investment products and says it is focused on a long-term approach.
Related: CFTC Faces Scrutiny Over Trump-Linked Crypto, Prediction Markets
Meme Coin Hype Ends in Sharp Losses
The $TRUMP meme coin attracted significant investor interest ahead of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. Trump publicly encouraged supporters to buy the token, while Eric Trump described it as the “hottest digital meme on earth.”
The token later surged to a record high before giving up much of those gains. Reuters estimated that the venture generated about $616 million for the Trump family, while investors collectively lost more than $700 million by the end of April.
According to Reuters, many buyers entered the market after promotional campaigns and heightened interest on social media helped drive demand for the token.
Public Companies Follow a Similar Pattern
Trump-linked companies also drew investors looking for exposure to crypto through listed equities. ALT5 Sigma, later renamed AI Financial Corp., bought hundreds of millions of dollars worth of World Liberty tokens. The company’s share price later declined, contributing to investor losses.
Separately, American Bitcoin went public through a merger and positioned itself around Bitcoin mining. Reuters estimates that outside investors lost more than $200 million on the stock.
Ethics experts told Reuters that the Trump family’s crypto-related activities raise conflict-of-interest concerns. The White House rejected those claims, saying the president’s actions support the interests of the United States.
Related: U.S.-Iran Talks Strain as Trump and Tehran Compete to Claim Victory
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