Donald Trump’s Vision to Make the US Crypto Capital Fuels Expansion of His Business Empire
By Declan Harty – January 29, 2026
Donald Trump, once famous for his hotels and golf courses, has aggressively expanded his business empire into the cryptocurrency arena during his first year back in the White House. The former president and real estate mogul has embraced a new title: cryptocurrency tycoon. Much of his increasing net worth is now tied to this fast-evolving sector—an area where his administration wields considerable regulatory influence.
Breaking Tradition: Business and Presidency Collide
Historically, U.S. presidents have kept clear of their personal business dealings while holding office. Yet, over the past year, Donald Trump, his family, and business partners have bucked this norm by backing a string of crypto startups and entering lucrative deals that have reportedly boosted Trump’s assets by approximately $1 billion.
A notable source of income has been the trading of “memecoins” branded with $TRUMP and $MELANIA tokens. These digital currencies have generated hundreds of millions in fees for Trump’s family and their associates. Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent of Truth Social with Trump as its largest shareholder, announced plans last year to accumulate cryptocurrency tokens. Meanwhile, World Liberty Financial—a Trump-backed crypto company—has been actively engaged in international deals and expanding its presence in the U.S.
World Liberty Financial’s Ambitious Banking Application
In a move that could further blur the lines between Trump’s business interests and his presidential duties, World Liberty applied in January 2026 to launch a nationally regulated bank. If approved, this would place the company, which Trump and his family partly own, under the supervision of a federal regulator closely connected to Trump’s administration.
The proposed bank would control the issuance of World Liberty’s stablecoin, USD1—a dollar-pegged digital token that anchors billions of dollars in customer assets. Stablecoins are considered crucial in the crypto market, serving as digital currencies stabilized to traditional fiat money.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has repeatedly denied any conflicts of interest involving the Trumps. She described media reports suggesting otherwise as irresponsible attempts to sow public distrust. David Wachsman, a spokesperson for World Liberty, emphasized that the bank application would “increase transparency and consumer protection,” asserting that Trump’s family holds only a nonvoting interest and does not control the company’s daily operations.
Nonetheless, some political figures express concern. Senator Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Democrat and the top member on the Senate Banking Committee, has urged the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to halt consideration of the application until all financial conflicts of interest involving Trump and the company are resolved. OCC Comptroller Jonathan Gould, however, declined to suspend the review, underscoring the agency’s “inherently apolitical” process.
Ownership and Leadership
World Liberty’s holding company is approximately 38% owned by entities affiliated with Trump and his family. Donald Trump himself carries the title of “co-founder emeritus,” and his sons Donald Jr., Eric, and Barron are co-founders. Leadership of the proposed bank would fall to Zach Witkoff, son of White House envoy Steve Witkoff, who declined to comment on the matter.
The OCC has granted conditional approval to five other crypto companies seeking similar charters, maintaining that their regulatory standards and statutory requirements will be stringently applied to all applicants, including World Liberty.
Conflict of Interest Concerns and Political Implications
Critics argue that Trump’s overlapping roles pose ethical dilemmas, but with Republicans controlling Congress, meaningful action appears unlikely. Experts note there is no current evidence Trump or his family have violated legal statutes.
Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, a vocal Democratic critic, remarked that many voters anticipated Trump would continue profiting while in office. Trump himself told The New York Times, “I found out that nobody cared. I’m allowed to. I prohibited them from doing business in my first term, and I got absolutely no credit for it.”
Kimberly Benza, spokeswoman for the Trump Organization, labels accusations of conflicts of interest as “categorically false,” noting the organization operates separately from the White House with strict ethics guidelines. An independent ethics adviser has also been appointed to maintain transparency.
Trump’s Expanding Crypto Footprint and Regulatory Environment
Aside from cryptocurrencies, Trump’s business portfolio remains diversified with holdings in real estate, hotels, golf resorts, and even emerging technologies like nuclear fusion.
Trump’s net worth, estimated by Forbes to have grown from $3.9 billion in 2024 to over $6.5 billion in 2026, reflects his expanding footprint, particularly in crypto. His administration has facilitated a friendlier regulatory atmosphere for digital assets, moving away from the stringent enforcement experienced under previous leadership.
Key crypto companies like Coinbase, Binance, and Kraken have seen high-profile lawsuits dropped by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which has also paused a fraud case against crypto investor Justin Sun, who is linked to Trump’s memecoin project. Trump pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao after Zhao’s incarceration on money laundering related charges.
Moreover, through World Liberty’s stablecoin, an Abu Dhabi investment fund invested $2 billion in Binance, highlighting the global financial reach of Trump-affiliated crypto ventures. The administration also enacted legislation last summer integrating stablecoins into mainstream U.S. financial systems, a milestone welcomed by crypto executives.
Mixed Reactions Within and Outside the Industry
While many in the crypto sector welcome the Trump administration’s less aggressive oversight, some Republicans express reservations about the intertwining of Trump’s crypto businesses and his political role. Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming voiced her unease about investor events related to $TRUMP tokens.
Democrats continue to seek conflict-of-interest safeguards and regulatory reforms in pending crypto legislation, but negotiations with Republicans and the White House have stalled.
What Lies Ahead?
If Democrats regain control of Congress in upcoming midterm elections, they might launch investigations aimed at untangling Trump’s crypto enterprises from presidential policy decisions. Until then, in an industry poised for potential scrutiny, some insiders anticipate increased pressure should the political landscape shift.
In the rapidly evolving cryptocurrency sector, Donald Trump’s dual role as president and crypto tycoon marks a new chapter—one that raises complex questions about power, profit, and policy in American political life.