Trump and crypto: from critic to 'crypto president'

Donald Trump has come a remarkable way when it comes to his attitude towards crypto. From open critic to self-proclaimed crypto president: his influence on the market has grown enormously in recent years. With his own crypto projects, far-reaching policy changes and a strategic Bitcoin reserve, Trump has left his mark on the digital currency world. In 2026, the intertwining of his presidency and the crypto sector is greater than ever.

In this article you will read everything about the relationship between Trump and crypto: how his positions changed, which projects he launched and what his policy means for the market and for you as an investor.

In short

• Trump changed from crypto critic to the most active advocate in American politics.

• As president, he pursues a pro-crypto policy through a restructuring of the SEC.

• The $TRUMP memecoin reached record highs shortly after his inauguration, but now struggles with volatility.

• World Liberty Financial (WLFI) is the DeFi platform of the Trump family, which has now raised hundreds of millions.

• The arrival of a strategic American Bitcoin reserve is a concrete policy point in 2026.

• His "America First" approach to blockchain has a worldwide influence on regulation (such as the GENIUS Act).

From critic to advocate: Trump's attitude towards crypto

For a long time, Donald Trump was downright negative about Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. In 2019 he called crypto 'not real money' and described it as something based on thin air. He expressed his preference for the US dollar as the only true world reserve currency. This critical attitude was widely shared at the time in traditional financial circles.

That changed drastically in the run-up to the 2024 presidential elections. Trump began actively seeking out the crypto community, spoke at major Bitcoin conferences and positioned himself as the candidate who wanted to make America the "crypto capital of the world". Since his re-election in 2025, this turnaround has been translated into national policy, with crypto seen as a strategic instrument to restore American dominance in financial technology.

Trump's crypto policy as president

After Trump was inaugurated again in January 2025 as the 47th president of the United States, a series of policy changes followed that gave the crypto market direct impulses.

Changes at the SEC under Trump

One of the most far-reaching changes was the change of course at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The enforcement-oriented approach of the previous administration was exchanged for a pro-innovation policy. In 2025 and early 2026, many ongoing lawsuits against large crypto exchanges and DeFi protocols were dropped. Under the new leadership, the focus is now on clear registration guidelines instead of legal prosecution, which has brought much calm to the market.

Strategic Bitcoin reserve and the GENIUS Act

One of the most striking developments in 2026 is the progress of the strategic Bitcoin reserve. In 2025, Trump signed an executive order to streamline government trading in Bitcoin. In early 2026, the White House crypto adviser, Patrick Witt, announced further steps to officially consolidate Bitcoin as a reserve asset on the balance sheet of the US. This is supported by the "American Reserves Modernization Act" (ARMA), which should help the government to accumulate up to 1 million Bitcoin over a period of five years.

Trump and the crypto summit at the White House

In 2025 and April 2026, exclusive crypto conferences and summits took place at locations such as Mar-a-Lago and the White House. Here Trump meets the largest investors and CEOs from the sector. These meetings have led to the launch of national AI and blockchain strategies, with the government working closely with the private sector to increase the technological lead over competitors such as China.

The $TRUMP memecoin: what is it and how does it work?

Just before his inauguration in 2025, the official $TRUMP memecoin was launched. Although the project is formally not owned by the government, the intertwining with the Trump organisation is evident.

Launch and price development of $TRUMP

The $TRUMP token, launched on the Solana blockchain, saw explosive growth around the inauguration in January 2025. In April 2026, however, sentiment is mixed; the price has corrected sharply compared to last year's peak. Nevertheless, the token remains one of the most traded memecoins, with the price often reacting directly to political statements by the president. Criticism of insider trading and the enormous concentration of tokens in a small group of affiliated entities, however, remains a point of concern for investors.

World Liberty Financial (WLFI): Trump's DeFi platform

In addition to the memecoin, the Trump family launched World Liberty Financial (WLFI). This platform is aimed at making DeFi mainstream through lending and borrowing services. The platform has now raised more than 550 million dollars. In April 2026, however, WLFI made the news due to legal disputes with major investors, such as Justin Sun, over the tradability of tokens. WLFI remains a cornerstone of the commercial crypto activities of the Trump family, with sons Donald Jr., Eric and Barron as driving forces.

What does Trump's crypto policy mean for the market?

The pro-crypto course of the Trump administration has caused a fundamental shift in how institutional investors view the market.

Impact on Bitcoin and altcoins

Bitcoin reached the magical threshold of 100,000 dollars under the Trump administration. The policy not only stimulates the largest coin, but also creates a favourable climate for altcoins that focus on infrastructure and stablecoins. The introduction of the GENIUS Act in 2025 has made it easier for banks to issue their own stablecoins, which has accelerated the integration between crypto and traditional banking.

Consequences for regulation worldwide

Due to the easing in the US, other regions, such as the European Union, face a challenge. While the EU holds on to the MiCA directives for consumer protection, many European companies look enviously at the freer American market. Trump's policy forces other countries to reconsider their regulation to prevent capital and talent from massively leaving for the United States.

Criticism of Trump's promises

Despite the enthusiasm in the crypto sector, there is also fierce criticism. Critics point to the enormous conflict of interest. The fact that the president of the United States and his family directly benefit from the sale of tokens (such as WLFI) while he makes policy for that same sector is considered unethical by many. Moreover, the high volatility of projects such as the $TRUMP coin causes large losses for private investors who entered at the top.

Frequently asked questions

Which crypto does Trump have?

Donald Trump and his family own a considerable portfolio through various entities. This includes, among others, Ethereum (ETH), tokens of World Liberty Financial (WLFI) and a large amount of the $TRUMP memecoin. Bloomberg estimated in early 2026 that the family had already earned more than 1.4 billion dollars from crypto-related projects.

What is Trump's crypto called?

The official memecoin is called $TRUMP. In addition, there is the DeFi project World Liberty Financial with the associated $WLFI token. Melania Trump has also launched her own NFT collections and tokens.

Which crypto rises because of Trump?

In addition to Bitcoin, which benefits from the idea of a national reserve, coins linked to the Solana ecosystem (on which $TRUMP runs) and projects that focus on American DeFi infrastructure often also see a positive reaction to Trump's policy.

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