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Trump Family Made $2.3B From Crypto, Investors Lost the Same
Reuters investigation reveals the Trump family collected $2.3B from four crypto projects while outside investors absorbed $2.3B in losses. The structure left token holders with no recourse.
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The numbers are stark. The Trump family collected roughly $2.3 billion from four cryptocurrency ventures. Outside investors lost roughly the same amount – $2.3 billion.
That finding comes from a Reuters investigation that analyzed corporate filings, blockchain data, and token sales across the family's crypto empire. The family bore almost no financial risk while extracting massive profits through a web of token sales, memecoins, and affiliated companies, the report found.
World Liberty Financial's 75% Cut and 60% Voting Control
The largest single source was World Liberty Financial, a decentralized finance project that launched in September 2024. Token sales generated over $1.4 billion for the project. The family collected a 75% revenue cut on those sales and also held a 60% controlling stake in the entity.
Why Governance Tokens Were a One-Way Bet
The tokens sold to outside investors were governance tokens, not equity. Holders got voting rights on a platform the family already controlled, with zero claim on actual profits. A 75% revenue share meant the vast majority of incoming capital flowed directly to the family – not into development or ecosystem building.
Early holders of locked WLFI tokens faced what the investigation described as a total loss. The tokens couldn't be sold during lockup periods. By the time restrictions lifted, market prices had collapsed. WLFI token holders absorbed approximately $674 million in losses.
The $TRUMP Memecoin: $616M for the Family, $700M for the Market
The $TRUMP memecoin contributed an estimated $616 million to the family's haul. Outside investors in the coin lost more than $700 million. The token launched with heavy celebrity backing and a structure that rewarded insiders before retail buyers could exit.
A memecoin is a cryptocurrency inspired by a meme or personality, often with no underlying business or utility. In this case, the value came purely from hype and the Trump name – both of which faded after the initial wave of buyers.
The Broader Pattern: ALT5 Sigma and American Bitcoin
Two other projects added to the totals. Purchasers of ALT5 Sigma shares recorded losses of around $675 million. Investors in American Bitcoin faced over $200 million in losses. In both cases, the family had revenue-sharing or equity structures that insulated them from downside.