President Donald Trump’s ventures in the cryptocurrency space have accumulated significant profits in recent months, with both his non-fungible token (NFT) collection and newly launched meme coin generating tens of millions of dollars.
While Trump’s “America First” NFT collection, released in August 2024, had already brought in over $2.2 million within two days, more recent reports indicate that his broader crypto-related earnings have surged to nearly $100 million.
Five Months Since NFT Launch, Trump’s Crypto Profits Continue to Grow
Launched on August 27, 2024, the “America First” NFT collection attracted immediate interest, recording 22,360 mints and 1,210 holders by August 29. The collection, priced at $99 per mint, was projected to generate up to $35 million if fully sold. While the initial sales milestone was notable, it has since been overshadowed by Trump’s more recent crypto endeavors.
In January 2025, Trump introduced a meme coin called $Trump, which experienced a meteoric rise, reaching a peak market value of over $14.5 billion by January 19, the day before his presidential inauguration. However, the coin’s value quickly plummeted by two-thirds, highlighting the volatility of politically linked digital assets. Despite this decline, blockchain analysts estimate that entities connected to Trump have amassed between $86 million and $100 million in trading fees since the meme coin’s launch. These earnings, combined with past NFT sales, have made Trump one of the most financially successful political figures in the crypto industry.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Ethical Concerns
Trump’s expanding presence in cryptocurrency has not gone unnoticed by regulators. Just a day after his NFT launch in August 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a Wells notice to OpenSea, one of the largest NFT marketplaces, indicating that certain digital assets could be classified as unregistered securities. The regulatory pressure has only intensified following the success of $Trump, with experts questioning whether the president’s business dealings in crypto present potential conflicts of interest.
Ethics experts and political analysts have also voiced concerns about the implications of Trump’s growing financial stake in crypto, given his influence over federal policy. Richard Briffault, a law professor at Columbia University, warned that Trump’s role in shaping financial regulations while personally benefiting from crypto markets raises serious ethical questions.
Public Reaction and Market Speculation
Trump’s NFT and meme coin initiatives have sparked mixed reactions within both the crypto and political communities. While some supporters view his engagement as a step toward mainstream adoption, others have criticized the ventures as self-serving. Social media discussions surrounding the $Trump coin have included accusations of market manipulation and insider advantages, particularly after reports surfaced of early investors securing millions in profit while thousands of smaller traders faced losses.
Despite the criticisms, Trump and his team remain committed to crypto expansion. Eric Trump, speaking on behalf of the Trump Organization, stated that $Trump remains “the hottest digital meme on earth” and hinted at further developments in the digital asset space. With Trump’s total crypto-related earnings now nearing the $100 million mark, the role of digital assets in both his business empire and political future remains a point of intense scrutiny.
