Trump’s Crypto Gamble: Big Losses, Big Gains

Nearly one million people invested in a coin named after the former president, only to lose approximately $3.8 billion.

Those same investors watched the former president earn roughly $636 million, according to a crypto‑analysis firm.

The coin is one of several projects Trump and his sons launched while he was running for office. They also created a startup that sells the token $WLFI, which has fallen in value from its peak.

In 2019, Trump said he disliked Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies because they were unpredictable and could facilitate illegal trade. His stance has since shifted.

In January 2025, he announced a new token called $TRUMP. The price surged to a high of $75.35 immediately after the announcement.

A week later, the token’s value collapsed by 97 %, trading around $1.76.

The promotional image for the token depicts Trump looking noticeably younger and slimmer than he actually is.

One investor who lost money described the token as a “legal scam.” He said Trump uses his status to launch currencies that people trust.

That investor originally invested $500,000 into the token and now has only half left.

While promoting his crypto projects, Trump also urged the government to reduce regulation and simplify tax reporting for digital assets.

Some lawmakers have taken notice. In a June hearing, a Texas representative accused Trump of running a Ponzi‑style scheme with the token. He argued that the president’s actions set the tone for how crypto deals should be handled nationwide.