Trump’s Crypto Empire: $800M, Memecoins, and Pardons 😱💰

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Key Takeaways

How much hath Trump, in his boundless avarice, amassed from the ethereal realm of cryptocurrency?

According to a missive from the House Judiciary Committee Democrats, the Trump lineage hath garnered upwards of $800 million from crypto sales in the first half of 2025 alone. A sum so vast, it doth boggle the mind! 🤑

What of the enforcement actions against Trump’s crypto acolytes? Did they vanish like mist at dawn?

The report doth allege that the SEC, in a fit of leniency, dismissed or paused investigations into at least nine companies that bestowed gifts upon Trump or invested in his ventures. A curious coincidence, is it not? 🤔

On the 24th of November, 2025, the House Judiciary Committee Democrats unveiled a tome of 27 pages, accusing President Trump of exploiting his office to amass a crypto fortune while systematically dismantling the very enforcement that should hold him to account. A tale of greed and power, it doth unfold.

The report, titled “Trump, Crypto, and a New Age of Corruption,” proclaimeth that Trump’s crypto holdings now surpass “any single real estate asset in his portfolio.” One expert, with a sigh, declared it “the most open corruption in any modern government anywhere.” A sad state of affairs, indeed. 😔

The Three Ventures

World Liberty Financial, Trump’s flagship crypto operation, emerged in September 2024, selling $WLFI governance tokens that generated $550 million across two offerings. A veritable goldmine, it was! 💎

The company also launched USD1, a stablecoin that grew to a $2.7 billion market cap. Trump, in his 2024 financial disclosure, declared $57.3 million in personal income from WLF. A modest sum, for a man of his stature. 😏

The $TRUMP memecoin launched on 17 January 2025, just three days before his inauguration, with Trump controlling roughly 80% of its supply. It peaked at $75 before crashing 67% within a week. A rollercoaster of fortune, it was! 🎢

While 45 wallets cleared $1.2 billion in profits, over 700,000 wallets collectively lost $4.3 billion, according to the report. A tale of haves and have-nots, it doth tell. 😢

Trump Media, not to be outdone, announced a $2.5 billion “bitcoin treasury” and purchased approximately $2 billion in bitcoin-related assets. A man of many talents, indeed. 🎩

The Pay-to-Play Pattern

Democrats allege a clear quid pro quo: invest in Trump’s crypto, and regulatory relief shall be thy reward. A bargain, some might say! 🤝

Ripple, in a gesture of goodwill, donated $4.9 million to Trump’s inauguration-the second-largest contribution. In August 2025, the SEC resolved its enforcement action against the company. When Trump announced Ripple’s inclusion in a federal crypto reserve, the token’s value surged 33%. A happy coincidence, no doubt. 😉

Crypto.com partnered with Trump Media on 24 March. Three days later, the SEC dropped its investigation. A swift resolution, it was! 🚀

Justin Sun, founder of Tron, a cryptocurrency exchange described as a haven for “illicit crypto activity”, invested $75 million in $WLFI after Trump’s election victory. The SEC paused its fraud case against Sun in February 2025. A fortunate turn of events, for Sun. 🍀

Foreign Influence Concerns

The report raiseth alarm about foreign investments, particularly from Chinese and UAE-linked entities. A tangled web, it doth weave. 🕸️

Aqua 1 Foundation, an obscure UAE-based fund, announced a $100 million $WLFI purchase in June 2025. Congressional staff were unable to verify the company’s legal existence in Emirati records. A mysterious entity, indeed. 🕵️♂️

The fund’s co-founders include Guren “Bobby” Zhou, under investigation in Britain for money laundering, and David Li, connected to China National Petroleum Corporation, a Chinese state-owned enterprise. A cast of characters, they are! 🎭

MGX, a UAE sovereign wealth fund controlled by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, invested $2 billion in Binance using World Liberty’s USD1 stablecoin. The deal occurred as the UAE negotiated with the White House for access to advanced American AI chips. A strategic move, it was! 🧠

Trump subsequently fired six National Security Council officials who opposed the chip deal over concerns about technology diversion to China. A bold decision, indeed. 🔥

Democrats argue this violates the Foreign Emoluments Clause, which forbids the President from accepting payments from foreign governments. A constitutional quandary, it doth present. 📜

Dismantling Enforcement

Beyond dropping individual cases, the Trump Administration systematically weakened crypto oversight:

  • DOJ disbanded the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team in April 2025 🕵️♂️
  • SEC issued guidance stating memecoins aren’t subject to securities laws-weeks after Trump launched his memecoin 📜
  • Treasury lifted sanctions on Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixer used by North Korean hackers 🌪️
  • Trump pardoned Binance founder CZ Zhao in October, who had pleaded guilty to money laundering in 2023 🤝

The report notes Binance secretly helped write the code powering USD1 and created PancakeSwap, a marketplace promoting World Liberty tokens. A behind-the-scenes player, it was! 🎮

The Zhao Pardon

Perhaps most brazen: On 23 October, Trump pardoned CZ Zhao, who pleaded guilty to money laundering as part of Binance’s $4.3 billion settlement with DOJ. Zhao and Binance spent months boosting World Liberty Financial before the pardon. A well-timed gesture, it was! ⏰

One expert quoted in the report stated: “I have never seen such open corruption in any modern government anywhere.” A damning indictment, indeed. 😔

Public Awareness Gap

Despite the massive sums involved, the report notes 60% of Americans haven’t heard about Trump’s family crypto business. A lack of awareness, it doth reveal. 🙈

Nearly half of Trump voters believe he hasn’t profited from the presidency, while a third think he’s made less than $100 million. A disconnect, it doth show. 🤷♂️

The report concludes: “President Trump has exploited a permissive alcove of our financial system to enrich himself and to harm the country. He has deliberately weakened the federal agencies that track terrorist financing, prevent human trafficking, and protect Americans against frauds and scams.” A sobering thought, it is. ⚖️

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2025-11-26 02:43