Donald Trump once again makes waves in the cryptocurrency world — but this time, not to launch a new token. In just 100 days back in office, Trump's meme coin, $TRUMP, has generated over $320 million in profits for entities connected to him. Launched right before he returned to the White House, the coin's value skyrocketed.
Top investors have even been promised a private dinner with Trump, adding to the buzz. But as regulators soften their stance on cryptocurrency, experts are raising concerns about whether a sitting president should benefit from such projects.
Trump's mixed comments on profits from TRUMP Coin.
In a recent interview with NBC News, Trump gave contradictory answers when asked if he profits from his memecoin, Official Trump (TRUMP). Initially, he claimed he makes nothing from it. A moment later, he admitted, "I haven't even looked," adding that if his stock goes up while doing a good job, "I guess I'm making a profit."
Trump's team denies any conflicts of interest, but with billions of dollars in potential profits tied to these tokens, along with cryptocurrency deals related to his brand — such as a $2 billion investment from Abu Dhabi — concerns about ethics and influence continue to grow.
Surge and sharp decline of the Token.
This token, launched on January 17, 2025, peaked at $73.43 just before Trump's inauguration. However, since then, it has dropped nearly 85%. Nevertheless, the coin has surged recently after Trump promised to host a private dinner for top holders on May 22, 2025. As of now, it is trading at around $11.35.
Trump's entities control 80% of the TRUMP token supply.
Although Trump downplays his involvement, two entities linked to his business empire — CIC Digital LLC and Fight Fight Fight LLC — control 80% of the total 1 billion TRUMP tokens.
These holdings are locked and will be gradually released until 2028. In April 2025, CIC Digital unlocked $454 million worth of tokens.
According to a report from the Financial Times, memecoins have generated over $350 million through token sales and transaction fees.
Trump's support for cryptocurrency and growing criticism.
Trump continues to express support for cryptocurrency, warning that without U.S. innovation, China could dominate this industry. However, some critics, including Republican senators, have questioned his memecoin transactions, suggesting they might be a conflict of interest as he lobbies to roll back cryptocurrency regulations.
When asked whether he would donate any cryptocurrency like his presidential salary, Trump replied: "I never thought about that." Currently, Trump's TRUMP token serves as a symbol of his ambitions in the cryptocurrency space — and the controversies surrounding it.
