Donald Trump made more than $1.4 billion from crypto last year. On Friday, he said he has “always felt” digital money was “a little bit dangerous.”
Both facts are on the record. The first sits in his own financial disclosure. The second came from the Oval Office, a day after hackers stole about $6.3 billion from crypto exchange Binance.
Trump Called Crypto Risky Again on Friday
Reporters asked about the Binance theft. Trump answered by talking about paper checks.
“You know, the old-fashioned way when you used to sign a check… These are different. People never see the money anymore. So I’ve always felt it was a little bit dangerous,” he said.
He has said this before. In July 2019, he wrote that crypto was “not money” and “based on thin air.” In June 2021, he told Fox Business that Bitcoin (BTC) “seems like a scam.” That December, he called crypto “a very dangerous thing.”
Where Trump’s $1.4 Billion in Crypto Money Came From
Then the family went into business. Trump’s 2025 disclosure lists the income.
The largest line was $636 million from a license deal for the TRUMP meme coin, a token sold on his name and image. Another $515 million (or more) came from token sales at World Liberty Financial, the crypto firm he co-founded with his sons.
World Liberty also issues USD1, a token built to stay worth $1. Most of it has sat on Binance, as BeInCrypto reported in February on Binance’s grip on USD1.
In October 2025, Trump pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao. The White House said the earlier prosecution reflected a “desire to punish the cryptocurrency industry,” according to PBS.
What Americans Think of Trump’s Crypto Money
A Reuters/Ipsos poll reported in August found 63% of Americans call Trump’s crypto profits inappropriate.
Trump spoke four days before Tuesday’s midterm elections. Binance says its customers will not lose money. Trump’s reply was two words.
“We’ll see.”
