Trump’s billion-dollar crypto haul raises concerns for everyday investors

A financial disclosure revealed that President Donald Trump and his family pulled in an estimated $1.2 billion to $1.4 billion from cryptocurrency ventures in 2025. On the other side of those trades, everyday investors watched the same tokens crater by as much as 98% from their peaks.

The money came from two primary sources: governance token sales tied to World Liberty Financial and royalties from the $TRUMP meme coin.

Where the billions came from

World Liberty Financial, the DeFi platform established in 2024 with the Trump family holding roughly 60% of the company, was the biggest revenue engine. The family generated between $526 million and $635 million from WLF token sales alone. Reuters estimates the total profit from WLFI governance tokens has reached approximately $1.4 billion since the 2024 elections.

Then there’s the $TRUMP meme coin, launched just before Trump’s January 2025 inauguration. That token generated an estimated $635 million in royalties for the family in 2025.

Total crypto gains for the Trump family exceeded $2.3 billion, a figure that roughly equals the amount investors lost during the same period.

The WLFI governance tokens tell the starkest story. After peaking above $0.30, the tokens slid to lows of approximately $0.05 to $0.058 by 2026. That’s a decline exceeding 80%.

The $TRUMP meme coin fared even worse. Its market cap fell to approximately $394 million by mid-2026, representing a drop of about 98% from its all-time high.

The political-crypto complex

The Trump family’s dominant position in World Liberty Financial, controlling around 60% of the venture, meant they were always going to be the primary beneficiaries. The meme coin royalty structure is equally revealing. Royalties flow to the creators regardless of whether the token’s price goes up or down. The $TRUMP coin could lose 98% of its value, and the royalty checks keep clearing.

What this means for crypto investors

Tokens closely tied to political figures carry risks that go well beyond normal market volatility. We’re talking about billions flowing from retail wallets to a sitting president’s family, at the intersection of political power and token issuance.

Investors should pay close attention to token allocation structures, insider ownership percentages, and royalty mechanisms before buying into any personality-driven crypto project. When a founding family controls 60% of a venture and profits regardless of price direction, the remaining 40% of holders are essentially providing exit liquidity.

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