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Trump made huge profits from his crypto. Did anyone else?

US President Donald Trump generated $1.4 billion in income from cryptocurrency ventures over the past year, primarily driven by royalties and token sales from his branded meme coins.

Key Points

  • President Trump earned $635 million from meme coin royalties and $236 million from token sales, largely linked to the $TRUMP cryptocurrency.
  • The $TRUMP coin value peaked at nearly $75 per unit before falling to $1.65 by July 2026.
  • Senator Adam Schiff and other lawmakers are investigating potential market manipulation and the loss of an estimated $4.3 billion in retail investor wealth.
  • Reports indicate that 45 "early-deployment" wallets earned $1.2 billion, resulting in a ratio where retail investors lost $20 for every dollar gained by insiders.
  • World Liberty Financial, managed by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., facilitated additional income and launched the USD1 stablecoin in May 2025.

Why it Matters

The significant financial losses suffered by retail investors compared to the gains of insiders highlight the extreme volatility and regulatory risks associated with meme coins. This situation has prompted congressional scrutiny into the intersection of political influence and speculative digital asset markets.
ABC News (AU) Published by Fergus Gregg
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