Reuters Investigation: Trump Family's Crypto Empire Cashed Out $2.3 Billion, Investors Incurred Nearly Equal Losses

marsbitОпубликовано 2026-06-10Обновлено 2026-06-10

Введение

Reuters Investigation: Trump Family's Crypto Empire Reportedly Cashed Out $2.3 Billion. A Reuters investigation reveals that from November 2024 to April 2026, entities linked to former US President Donald Trump earned approximately $2.3 billion in pretax revenue from four cryptocurrency projects. These projects are World Liberty Financial, the TRUMP meme coin, ALT5 Sigma (renamed AI Financial Corp.), and American Bitcoin. The revenue, derived largely from token sale royalties, founder allocations, and equity stakes, reportedly eclipsed the $2.1 billion profit posted by Coinbase during the same period. It also far exceeded earnings from major industry players like BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF business and top miner IREN. The report highlights an asymmetrical risk model where the Trump family allegedly invested minimal personal capital. However, over one million retail and public market investors are estimated to have absorbed nearly equivalent losses of about $2.25 billion. For instance, the TRUMP meme coin has lost around 98% of its value from its peak, and public companies like ALT5 Sigma and American Bitcoin have seen their stock prices collapse after raising funds linked to these ventures. The core leverage for these projects is identified as brand licensing and political influence rather than traditional business infrastructure.

Author: Claude, Deep Tide TechFlow

Deep Tide Intro: A Reuters investigation shows that between November 2024 and April 2026, the Trump family derived approximately $2.3 billion in pre-tax income from four crypto projects: World Liberty Financial, the TRUMP memecoin, ALT5 Sigma, and American Bitcoin, surpassing Coinbase's $2.1 billion profit during the same period. Over 1 million retail and secondary market investors suffered equivalent losses of about $2.25 billion.

A detailed investigative report published by Reuters on June 9 places the Trump family's crypto business empire under a precise financial microscope.

According to Reuters' cross-analysis based on on-chain data, corporate filings, public disclosures, and investor interviews, four crypto projects linked to the U.S. President collectively generated roughly $2.3 billion in pre-tax income from after the November 2024 election until April 2026.

This figure exceeds Coinbase's $2.1 billion profit during the same period and far outstrips the earnings of major industry players like BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF business (~$109 million) and the largest listed miner, IREN (~$127 million).

The data also reveals a near-zero-sum financial picture: the $2.3 billion gained by the Trump family almost perfectly mirrors the approximately $2.25 billion in net losses borne by retail and public market investors.

Asymmetric Risk Structure: Family Invested Minimal Personal Capital

The core finding of the Reuters investigation lies in the business model itself. Unlike Coinbase or BlackRock, which compete based on trading infrastructure, liquidity depth, and assets under management, the Trump family's crypto projects employed a highly asymmetric risk structure: the family invested minimal personal capital but reaped enormous upside through revenue-sharing from token sales, founder token allocations, and equity arrangements.

Among the four projects, World Liberty Financial contributed the largest share. The project began selling its governance token in October 2024, with Trump's two sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, participating in roadshows as core promoters. The project party signed a revenue-sharing agreement with DT Marks DEFI LLC, an entity linked to the Trump family, entitling it to 75% of token sale revenue after deducting costs. Reuters estimates that through this structure alone, the family received about $987 million in income.

The TRUMP memecoin was the second-largest revenue source. Launched on the Solana blockchain just before Trump's second inauguration, on-chain analysis shows total revenue exceeded $1.2 billion, with roughly $616 million attributed to the family.

Investors Incurred Equal Losses on the Mirror Side

The flip side of the family's gains is systematic investor losses.

Buyers of World Liberty Financial tokens incurred cumulative losses of approximately $674 million by the end of April. A significant portion of early holdings remained locked, with their pre-unlock book value close to zero. Investors in the TRUMP memecoin fared even worse. The token hit an all-time high of around $74.27 in January 2025; by June 9, its price had plummeted to about $1.65, a drop of roughly 98%. Reuters estimates losses for token holders exceed $700 million. A California investor told Reuters she invested $2,000 after seeing Trump's promotion; by the end of May, her holdings were worth less than $120.

Investors through public company channels also suffered heavy losses. ALT5 Sigma (later renamed AI Financial Corp.) raised $750 million through a share issuance, with $717 million used to purchase World Liberty tokens, and over $500 million flowing to the Trump family via revenue sharing. The company's stock price fell from over $9 in August 2025 to about $0.75 by the end of April 2026, resulting in investor losses of roughly $675 million. American Bitcoin's stock price dropped from its $11 IPO price in September 2025 to about $1.15 by the end of April, causing investor losses exceeding $200 million. Both Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. received equity stakes without contributing capital, with Eric Trump's holdings still valued at over $70 million at the end of April.

Trump Crypto Revenue Exceeds Coinbase, Crushes Major Industry Players

Reuters' comparative data puts this scale into sharper perspective. During the same window from November 2024 to April 2026:

Coinbase revenue was approximately $2.1 billion; IREN (the largest listed Bitcoin miner by market cap) revenue was about $127 million; BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF business (IBIT) revenue was around $109 million; Circle (issuer of USDC) incurred a loss of $14 million; Galaxy Digital incurred a loss of $430 million.

The Trump family's $2.3 billion exceeds the totals for all the aforementioned companies. These companies built their commercial moats over years of technological accumulation, licensing/compliance, and market development. The core leverage for the Trump projects was brand licensing and political influence.

Связанные с этим вопросы

QAccording to the Reuters investigation, how much pretax revenue did projects linked to the Trump family generate from November 2024 to April 2026?

AAccording to the Reuters investigation, projects linked to the Trump family generated approximately $2.3 billion in pretax revenue from November 2024 to April 2026.

QWhat is the core finding of the Reuters report regarding the business model of the Trump family's crypto projects?

AThe core finding is that the business model employed a highly asymmetrical risk structure: the family invested very little of its own capital but captured enormous upside through mechanisms like token sale revenue sharing, founder token allocations, and equity arrangements.

QWhich two projects were the largest sources of revenue for the Trump family, according to the report?

AAccording to the report, World Liberty Financial was the largest source, providing an estimated $987 million, and the TRUMP memecoin was the second largest, providing approximately $616 million to the family.

QWhat was the approximate total net loss suffered by retail and secondary market investors in these projects?

ARetail and secondary market investors suffered approximately $2.25 billion in net losses, an amount nearly equal to the family's gains.

QHow did the Trump family's crypto revenue during this period compare to the profits of major industry players like Coinbase?

AThe Trump family's $2.3 billion in revenue exceeded the $2.1 billion profit reported by Coinbase during the same period, and also far surpassed the revenue of other major players like BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF business (~$109 million) and IREN (~$127 million).

Похожее

The Value Distribution of Stablecoins

**Summary: The Value Distribution of Stablecoins** The article argues that stablecoins are evolving from mere trading tools into broader channels for dollar access. It divides the stablecoin ecosystem into four layers to analyze how value is distributed: 1. **Issuance Layer:** Mints stablecoins, holds reserve assets, and captures the spread between reserve yield and user costs (e.g., Tether, Circle). This layer currently earns the largest profit margin. 2. **Infrastructure Layer:** Connects stablecoins to the traditional financial system, handling fiat on/off-ramps, banking integration, compliance (KYC/AML), and asset management (e.g., Bridge, BVNK). This is the "unglamorous" but critical work, building the essential bridges between crypto and real-world finance. 3. **Acquiring/Distribution Layer:** Integrates stablecoins into merchant systems, manages payment flows, and provides enterprise financial software (e.g., Stripe, Coinbase). They act as the access point for businesses. 4. **Application Layer:** The end-users and businesses that ultimately use stablecoins for payments, settlements, or as a store of value. They benefit from convenience but have little pricing power. The core thesis is that while the issuance layer currently dominates profits, the often-overlooked **infrastructure layer holds significant long-term potential**. The real challenge and barrier to mass adoption is not the on-chain transfer of stablecoins (which is simple), but the complex "last mile" integration into existing business workflows, banking systems, and regulatory frameworks across different countries. Companies in this layer are currently in a "land grab" phase, investing heavily to build networks, secure bank partnerships, and establish compliance pathways. While their position is currently pressured by the profitable issuers above and distribution platforms below, the article suggests that if stablecoins become a default financial rail for businesses, the infrastructure providers who have done the hard work of integration will ultimately gain strong pricing power and become entrenched, essential players.

marsbit29 мин. назад

The Value Distribution of Stablecoins

The Value Distribution of Stablecoins The article argues that stablecoins are evolving from a mere trading tool into a broad "dollar channel." It analyzes the industry's value chain through four layers: 1. **Issuance Layer (e.g., Tether, Circle):** The top layer that mints stablecoins, holds reserve assets, and captures the thickest interest rate spread. 2. **Infrastructure Layer (e.g., Bridge, BVNK):** Connects stablecoins to the traditional financial system, handling critical but complex "dirty work" like fiat on/off-ramps, banking integration, compliance (KYC/AML), and cross-border settlement. 3. **Acquiring/Distribution Layer (e.g., Stripe, Coinbase):** Embeds stablecoins into merchant systems, manages payment flows, and integrates with enterprise software. 4. **Application Layer:** End-users and businesses that ultimately use stablecoins for payments, settlement, or storing value. The author posits that while the issuance layer currently captures the most profit, the most overlooked and potentially critical layer is infrastructure. The core challenge for stablecoin adoption isn't the on-chain transfer (which is simple), but bridging the gap between blockchain and the real-world financial system. This involves solving practical problems for businesses: fiat conversion, reconciliation, tax handling, and user onboarding. Infrastructure companies are currently in a difficult "land-grab" phase—building networks, securing banking relationships, and achieving compliance country-by-country. They face pressure from both the profitable issuance layer above and distribution platforms below. However, the author suggests this layer is building a crucial moat. Once stablecoins become a default business rail, the infrastructure players who have done the hard work of integration may gain significant, durable value and pricing power.

链捕手33 мин. назад

Why Is Nvidia Borrowing $20 Billion When It's Not Short of Cash?

Nvidia's recent announcement to issue at least $20 billion in senior notes, despite holding a strong cash position with over $48.6 billion in free cash flow last quarter, is not a sign of financial need. Instead, it represents a strategic move to leverage its high credit rating (recently upgraded to AA by S&P) to secure low-cost, long-term debt. This capital will support long-term AI infrastructure investments, data centers, R&D, supply chain prepayments, and strategic investments, while allowing the company to continue aggressive shareholder returns through stock buybacks and dividends. The decision reflects a mature capital management strategy: using debt to finance long-term growth assets is more efficient and less dilutive to shareholders than equity financing. It signals that Nvidia, like other tech giants (Alphabet, Meta, Amazon), is entering a new phase of heavy AI capital expenditure, shifting from a pure growth story to a story about capital allocation, credit strength, and long-term ecosystem positioning. The key question for investors is whether Nvidia can maintain its high cash flow generation and ensure that returns from these AI investments justify the cost of capital over the long term. The bond issuance amplifies its expansion capabilities but also ties its valuation more closely to the broader AI investment cycle's sustainability and profitability.

marsbit1 ч. назад

Why Is Nvidia Borrowing $20 Billion When It's Not Short of Cash?

marsbit1 ч. назад

Liberland Fires Tech Secretary After Alleged Blockchain And Website Takeover Attempt

Liberland's congress has voted to remove Technology Secretary Dorian Stern Vukotić, following a resolution accusing him of attempting to hijack the Liberland.org domain, removing administrative multisig protections, blocking the president from voting, and launching unauthorized tokens. The incident serves as a case study in blockchain governance, highlighting risks that go beyond smart contracts to include control over domains, admin keys, and off-chain authority. For the crypto industry, it underscores the need to scrutinize decentralization claims against operational realities, where a small group can still compromise governance. The story reflects a broader market shift where infrastructure security and governance are becoming as critical as price action. Editorial framing should treat the development as a verified information signal about governance risks, avoiding overstatement of Liberland's legal status and leaving room for follow-up evidence.

bitcoinist1 ч. назад

Liberland Fires Tech Secretary After Alleged Blockchain And Website Takeover Attempt

bitcoinist1 ч. назад

How to Do Research Well: Deliberately Practice the Real Skills That Matter

No one truly teaches you how to do research. You're often given a desk, a pre-selected problem, and vague instructions to "create something new." Consequently, many people reverse-engineer the job based on visible outputs—papers, posts, announcements—learning only how to *appear* like a researcher rather than how to *become* one. True research capability is built from stacking small, trainable skills, nearly all of which can be developed through deliberate practice. **Pick Your Own Problem:** Most researchers absorb problems from advisors or trends, lacking the underlying reasoning. Choosing a problem you genuinely care about, as John Schulman advises, leads to original work. Develop "taste" like a muscle: predict experiment outcomes, guess paper results from methods, and track which findings remain important over time. **Upgrade Your Inputs:** Relying on shared reading lists (arXiv hot lists, filtered group chats) leads to unoriginal conclusions. Undervalued old literature often holds crucial insights (e.g., MoE, LSTM, backpropagation). Richard Sutton's "The Bitter Lesson" or Claude Shannon's 1952 talk on creative thinking are more predictive than lengthy modern surveys. Breadth matters as much as depth: draw from neuroscience, mechanism design, hardware knowledge, and honest statistics. Read papers directly, especially appendices and limitations sections. **Write Everything Down:** As Paul Graham noted, writing exposes flaws in seemingly mature ideas. Writing is the cheapest defense against self-deception. Following Feynman's principle, Darwin programmatically wrote down facts contradicting his theory to combat memory bias. Maintain a detailed log of hypotheses, setups, predictions, results, and updated understandings. Reviewing past logs fosters essential humility.

marsbit2 ч. назад

How to Do Research Well: Deliberately Practice the Real Skills That Matter

marsbit2 ч. назад

Торговля

Спот

Фьючерсы

Обсуждения

Добро пожаловать в Сообщество HTX. Здесь вы сможете быть в курсе последних новостей о развитии платформы и получить доступ к профессиональной аналитической информации о рынке. Мнения пользователей о цене на S (S) представлены ниже.

Reuters Investigation: Trump Family's Crypto Empire Cashed Out $2.3 Billion, Investors Incurred Nearly Equal Losses

Введение

Asymmetric Risk Structure: Family Invested Minimal Personal Capital

Investors Incurred Equal Losses on the Mirror Side

Trump Crypto Revenue Exceeds Coinbase, Crushes Major Industry Players

Связанные с этим вопросы

Похожее

The Value Distribution of Stablecoins

The Value Distribution of Stablecoins

Why Is Nvidia Borrowing $20 Billion When It's Not Short of Cash?

Liberland Fires Tech Secretary After Alleged Blockchain And Website Takeover Attempt

How to Do Research Well: Deliberately Practice the Real Skills That Matter

Торговля

Популярные статьи

Как купить S

Sonic: Обновления под руководством Андре Кронье – новая звезда Layer-1 на фоне спада рынка

HTX Learn: Пройдите обучение по "Sonic" и разделите 1000 USDT

Обсуждения

Топ вопросы

Популярные категории

Популярные теги