Trump's Crypto Empire Earns Billions Annually: WLFI Becomes Core Asset, but the Public Company Is Losing Money

In 2025, the Trump family experienced explosive growth in their cryptocurrency holdings. From the speculative frenzy around Meme coins to stable income from DeFi protocol World Liberty Financial, and investment strategies by publicly listed companies, Trump built a highly commercialized crypto empire. According to Forbes, Trump’s personal net worth is approximately $6.6 billion, with a significant portion derived from crypto assets. However, the other side of this empire is that ordinary investors suffered heavy losses in certain projects, while the Trump family remained the biggest beneficiary.

The Three Pillars of Trump’s Crypto Empire

Meme Coins: A Trap for Speculators and a Cash Cow for the Family

In early 2025, Trump and his wife Melania launched their own themed tokens, which initially reached a market cap of several billion dollars. But this speculative frenzy was short-lived; the token prices subsequently plummeted, with some dropping over 90%. Investors who bought at the peak suffered significant losses.

Yet, the Trump family was the biggest winner amid this volatility. Public information indicates that Trump or his controlled entities ultimately hold up to 80% of the total token supply. Even considering liquidity constraints and selling pressure, the book value of this stake remains very high. More notably, on-chain data shows that related wallets have transferred nearly $100 million in stablecoins and some tokens to custody and trading platforms, indicating that the Trump family is engaging in phased asset liquidation.

World Liberty Financial: A Stable Cash Cow

Compared to the short-term speculation of Meme coins, World Liberty Financial (WLFI) is viewed as a long-term asset with greater value in Trump’s crypto portfolio.

This DeFi protocol raised $550 million through WLFI token sales, with about 75% of the distributable profits flowing directly to the Trump-controlled entity DT Marks. Although Trump no longer serves as a co-founder, he continues to benefit through equity and token holdings.

Latest market data shows that the indirect holdings of WLFI tokens by Trump are valued at over $2 billion, though they are currently locked. Importantly, the USD stablecoin issued by WLFI is backed by U.S. Treasuries and cash equivalents, generating approximately $100 million in annual interest income, most of which accrues to entities related to Trump.

Market performance indicates WLFI has a current market cap of $466 million, ranking 26th among cryptocurrencies. It has performed strongly recently, with a 7-day increase of 19.53% and a 24-hour increase of 1.96%. Community discussions suggest that the WLFI app will be launched in Q1, which could serve as the next catalyst for the project.

Public Company Investments: A Traditional Route Under Pressure

At the public company level, Trump’s crypto investments are under significant pressure. After Trump Media & Technology Group bought Bitcoin at higher levels, the subsequent price decline has resulted in substantial unrealized losses. His family members’ involvement in Bitcoin mining company American Bitcoin has seen its stock price plummet since listing, with the value of their holdings severely diminished. This presents a stark contrast: directly controlled crypto projects are profitable, while indirect investments via listed companies face challenges.

Policy Support Bolsters the Ecosystem

The Trump administration’s friendly stance toward cryptocurrencies is providing positive momentum for the entire ecosystem. Reports indicate that, as Trump embraced digital assets, blue-chip firms like PwC began increasing their investments in the crypto space. A PwC US executive stated that new regulatory frameworks (such as rules related to stablecoins) and the appointment of pro-crypto regulators are boosting market confidence in digital assets. This policy support lays a more solid foundation for Trump’s crypto empire.

Risks and Controversies Accumulate

Despite the substantial gains, Trump’s crypto business empire faces multiple risks. Regulatory scrutiny, conflicts of interest allegations, and market volatility are mounting. While the White House denies any misconduct, political and financial risks could intensify in 2026. Notably, large-scale losses among Meme coin investors have already sparked questions about project compliance.

Summary

Trump’s crypto empire exhibits a clear duality: on one hand, by controlling absolute rights over projects, the Trump family has earned billions from assets like Meme coins and WLFI; on the other hand, ordinary investors have suffered heavy losses in some projects. WLFI, as a core asset, with a valuation of $2 billion and stable interest income, remains one of the most promising long-term investments. However, losses from investments in listed companies highlight that even Trump cannot fully escape market risks.

Looking ahead to 2026, the future trajectory of Trump’s crypto empire will depend on three key factors: continued government policy support, the actual implementation of projects like WLFI, and the evolution of the regulatory environment. Bolstered by a strong personal brand, cryptocurrency could become one of the most profitable sectors in Trump’s decades-long business career, but the associated political and legal risks should not be underestimated.