While Trump was back in office in 2025, his sons launched and grew big money ventures—especially in crypto. Eric and Don Jr. helped take “American Bitcoin” public, and their stake was worth over a billion dollars on day one. The family’s other crypto venture, World Liberty Financial, rolled out a dollar-pegged stablecoin and set terms so Trump-linked companies could keep most of the revenue. At the same time, Trump’s administration pushed crypto-friendly policies—new executive orders, a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve,” a friendlier SEC, and a White House summit—that made the industry’s life easier. The sons’ companies also drew large foreign money and special business deals, raising questions about influence and national security. They pursued deals meant to benefit from government incentives, and Trump kept his businesses in a family trust, letting his children keep monetizing while he served. Bottom line: the Trump family built and boosted high-value businesses—especially in crypto—while the administration shaped rules that helped those businesses.
¶ Trump’s sons launched and rapidly grew high‑value businesses while he was back in office
- On September 3, 2025, American Bitcoin, a mining/treasury firm co-founded by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., began trading on Nasdaq; AP reported Eric is a co‑founder and chief strategy officer. (abcnews.go.com)
- Reuters reported the brothers’ combined stake (about 20%) was worth over $1.5 billion at the first day’s close. (reuters.com)
- Nasdaq’s official events page shows Eric Trump rang the opening bell on September 16, 2025 as American Bitcoin’s co‑founder/CSO. (nasdaq.com)
- Reuters noted American Bitcoin would go public via a merger with Gryphon, with existing American Bitcoin shareholders (including Eric and Don Jr.) owning ~98% of the combined company. (reuters.com)
- World Liberty Financial (WLF)—a Trump family–backed crypto venture—launched a dollar‑pegged stablecoin, USD1, after raising $550 million; disclosures indicated entities connected to the Trump family could receive up to 75% of net protocol revenue. (cnbc.com)
- The National reported President Trump was named WLF’s “chief crypto advocate,” with Eric, Don Jr., and Barron Trump named “ambassadors.” (thenationalnews.com)
- Bloomberg-based tallies reported by the Boston Globe showed the family’s crypto ventures (WLF and American Bitcoin) added roughly $1.3 billion to the Trumps’ wealth within weeks. (bostonglobe.com)
- On January 23, 2025, the White House issued an executive order “Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology,” directing agencies to roll back crypto‑related regulatory overreach and barring a U.S. CBDC. (whitehouse.gov)
- On March 6, 2025, Trump signed an executive order creating a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a Digital Asset Stockpile; the White House fact sheet and CNBC coverage outlined the policy and its mechanics. (whitehouse.gov)
- Paul S. Atkins, a pro‑crypto regulator, was confirmed as SEC Chair in April 2025, signaling a friendlier posture toward digital assets. (reuters.com)
- Under the new approach, the SEC moved to end or drop major crypto cases against Coinbase, Kraken, and Binance, easing industry pressure. (reuters.com)
- Trump hosted a White House crypto summit on March 7, 2025; Reuters and CNBC reported industry leaders attended and the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve was a focus. (reuters.com)
- Reuters reported an August 2025 executive order encouraged easier 401(k) access to alternative assets such as private equity and cryptocurrency, spurring Wall Street product moves. (reuters.com)
- Reuters reported that Abu Dhabi–backed MGX selected WLF’s USD1 stablecoin to close a $2 billion investment in Binance, massively boosting USD1’s profile and potential revenues. (reuters.com)
- Reuters also reported a UAE‑based fund invested $100 million in WLFI tokens. (reuters.com)
- The Guardian investigation, citing SEC filings and experts, found Bitmain gave Eric Trump–linked American Bitcoin unusually favorable access and financing terms (including pledged‑bitcoin payments with extended redemption), prompting national security and influence‑concern questions. (theguardian.com)
¶ Trump’s sons pursued deals explicitly positioned to benefit from government policy and incentives during his term
- AP reporting (via the Washington Post) showed a SPAC that had just hired Don Jr. and Eric Trump as advisers initially told investors it sought targets “well positioned” to tap government grants, tax credits, contracts, or preferential procurement—language later deleted after AP inquiries—while granting the sons valuable “founder shares.” (washingtonpost.com)
¶ Trump maintained structures that kept family control over his business interests, enabling his children’s continued monetization during his presidency
- Days before taking office in January 2025, the Trump Organization said Trump would again place assets into a trust managed by his children and separate himself from day‑to‑day management—an arrangement ethics experts say still poses conflicts. (investing.com)
- Reuters reported Eric Trump became a Citigroup private‑bank client and set up a trust holding some of his father’s assets, reflecting continued family management of Trump holdings while he serves as president. (reuters.com)
- AP analysis reported Trump was leveraging the power of the office to boost family businesses—from crypto ventures to branded products—while his sons ran the Trump Organization, underscoring ongoing profit opportunities tied to his presidency. (abcnews.go.com)