Under the Trump crypto playbook, the family always wins
A Reuters investigation examines how the Trump family has profited from cryptocurrency ventures, including the launch of memecoins and other digital assets. The report suggests that the family's business moves in crypto markets have benefited them financially while exposing ordinary investors to significant risks, raising questions about conflicts of interest and market manipulation.
Background
- This Reuters investigation examines how Donald Trump and his family have launched multiple cryptocurrency ventures — most notably World Liberty Financial — since his 2024 presidential campaign. The core allegation: these ventures are structured so the Trump family receives large fees, token allocations, and revenue regardless of whether outside investors profit.
- World Liberty Financial is a DeFi (decentralized finance) platform launched September 2024. The Trump family reportedly receives 75% of net revenue and 22.5 billion governance tokens — worth billions if the project succeeds — while ordinary investors face high risk and opaque terms.
- Trump previously sold NFTs and launched Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT), whose stock is volatile and tied to his political fortunes. Critics say these ventures blur political fundraising, personal enrichment, and public governance.
- The "family always wins" pattern: Trumps take money off the top via fees and insider allocations, while retail investors bear downside risk — distinct from typical corruption stories, it's about using political prominence to market financial products under favorable personal terms.