The Trump family’s crypto game is stepping up. Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. are taking their bitcoin mining firm, American Bitcoin, public. This comes through a merger with Gryphon Digital Mining, an all-stock deal that will place the company on Nasdaq under the ticker ABTC.
Once the deal closes—expected by Q3 2025—the Trump brothers and other existing shareholders will control 98% of the new firm. The move tightens their grip on the crypto industry. It’s also another sign that the Trump brand sees major long-term potential in bitcoin infrastructure, not just meme coins.
American Bitcoin Backs U.S. Dominance in Crypto Mining
Eric Trump has made his message clear: the U.S. must lead in crypto. “We won the space race. We better win the crypto race,” he told CNBC. As chief strategy officer of American Bitcoin, Eric wants to make sure the U.S. doesn’t fall behind as other countries ramp up mining using excess energy.
His father, Donald Trump, has echoed that view on the campaign trail. At a private event in Mar-a-Lago, the former president told mining executives he wants all bitcoin mining to stay on U.S. soil. He’s even pushed new executive orders to loosen environmental rules and boost fossil fuel production—moves that help power bitcoin rigs.
While critics warn of the climate cost, miners are celebrating. Oilfield operations can now use flare gas more freely. That’s a big plus for outfits like American Bitcoin.
Hut 8’s Role in the Plan
The company isn’t starting from scratch. American Bitcoin is being carved out of Hut 8, a major energy and AI infrastructure player. Hut 8 will retain an 80% stake in American Bitcoin, with the rest held by the Trump brothers.
Taking the firm public through Gryphon helps unlock new capital without weighing down Hut 8’s balance sheet. Gryphon’s stock soared more than 300% on the news, while Hut 8 gained 10%. Those numbers show just how much hype is building around this high-profile crypto play.
American Bitcoin Aims to Be More Than Hype
This isn’t just a headline grab. Unlike the Trump-backed $TRUMP meme coin, which offered private dinners with the president to top holders, American Bitcoin is focused on real infrastructure. It’s about rigs, energy, and mining—less flash, more substance.
Still, the Trump family’s crypto ambitions go well beyond mining. They’ve also been involved in controversial stablecoin projects like World Liberty Financial, and political fallout has followed. The failed Genius Act, which would’ve regulated stablecoins, was derailed partly over concerns tied to the Trump family’s financial dealings.
American Bitcoin Signals a Shift in Strategy
For Eric Trump, this merger isn’t just business—it’s strategic. As other nations race to dominate crypto mining, he believes the U.S. needs to secure its lead now. By merging with Gryphon and tapping Nasdaq’s capital markets, American Bitcoin gains new firepower.
In short, this is no side hustle. It’s a calculated push by the Trump family to turn American Bitcoin into a serious player in the crypto mining world.
