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By Hugh Cameron
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President Donald Trump’s newly published financial disclosure report has underscored the substantial rewards from his pivot toward cryptocurrency, an industry transformed by his embrace of digital assets.
According to the 927-page report, released Tuesday by the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), the president pulled in billions of dollars last year through various business dealings, including stock trades, his global real estate and business interests and royalties from Trump-branded products.
A significant portion—around $1.4 billion, according to estimates from The New York Times and Reuters—came from the president’s cryptocurrency ventures, a relatively recent addition to his business empire but one that has swiftly become its most profitable arm. This stems primarily from his family's company, World Liberty Financial (WLFI), as well as from the sale of the $TRUMP meme coin.
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And while the amount earned during his time in office far exceeds earnings from before his second term, the administration has rejected concerns about any alleged conflict between his business interests and public duties.
“Neither the President nor his family has ever engaged—or will ever engage—in conflicts of interest,” White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly told Newsweek on Wednesday.
“President Trump proudly made the United States the crypto capital of the world through executive actions, supporting legislation like the GENIUS Act and other commonsense policies to drive innovation and economic opportunity for all Americans,” she added.
What Has Trump Done to Boost Crypto?
From being a vocal critic of the industry—dubbing the flagship currency Bitcoin a “scam” in 2021—Trump has since become one of crypto's highest-profile backers, embracing it during his 2024 campaign before pursuing a pro-crypto agenda once back in office.
The early days of his second term saw an immediate regulatory pivot, with the administration rolling back regulations adopted by former President Joe Biden and voicing a desire for the U.S to become “the crypto capital of the world.”
Early executive orders included those promoting “responsible growth and use of digital assets, blockchain technology, and related technologies across all sectors of the economy,” as well as the creation of a crypto working group and the appointment of the nation’s first-ever “AI & Crypto Czar."
Trump also replaced key officials viewed as hostile to the industry, such as Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler. Trump said he would fire Gensler, viewed by many as a crypto skeptic, on “day one." Gensler ultimately stepped down and was replaced with Paul Atkins, a former SEC commissioner and adviser to cryptocurrency firms.
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Last March, Trump announced the creation of a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve," dubbed by his then-crypto czar David Sacks a “digital Fort Knox.” This reserve is set to be filled with Bitcoin seized by the government, and the plan is still moving ahead, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urging lawmakers to codify it by passing the CLARITY Act.
As the White House notes, President Trump was also a firm proponent of the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act. Signed into law in July, the bill was the first major crypto law to regulate stablecoins, whose value is pegged to a fiat currency like the dollar. Supporters said the law provided long-sought regulatory clarity, encouraging greater institutional participation and wider adoption across mainstream financial markets.
"Today marks a pivotal moment that reflects the administration's proactive approach on crypto legislation,” John Wu, president of the New York-based blockchain company Ava Labs, said in July, as quoted by Crypto Citizens Network. “This is a foundation for legitimizing stablecoins, embedding them into the global network of money movement and setting a global standard for other countries.”
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Trump’s Crypto Fortune Draws Scrutiny
According to estimates from Politico, Trump’s $1.4 billion in crypto-linked income in 2025 came from two main sources. Nearly $600 million was generated by WLFI, while around $636 million came from CIC Digital, a business affiliated with the Trump Organization and which developed the $TRUMP coin.
And some critics have said Trump's simultaneous influence over the crypto industry and profits from crypto ventures blur the line between public policy and private gain. On Wednesday, former White House lawyer Ty Cobb accused the president of creating policies that “can only enrich himself and his family” during an interview with CNN.
Trump, however, dismissed any concerns over conflicts of interest on Wednesday morning, telling reporters that he “purposely” never speaks to those who handle his finances, and argued that his wealth has increased “because the stock market is going up.”
“All actions by President Trump and his administration are taken in the best interest of the American people,” the White House's deputy press secretary told Newsweek on Wednesday.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Daniel Orton and Sam Wilson.
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