Forbes Bombshell: Has Trump Become The Largest Bitcoin Holder In The U.S.?

Markets
Updated: 2025-10-20 09:33

I am not a fan of Bitcoin, I do not believe in it." This was Donald Trump’s public comment on cryptocurrency in 2019.

However, by October 2025, according to Forbes magazine, this American president has quietly become one of the largest Bitcoin holders in the world, indirectly holding Bitcoin worth up to $870 million.

This astonishing transformation has not only shaken the cryptocurrency market but also sparked extensive discussions about the intertwining of politics, wealth, and crypto assets.

01 Forbes ignites shocking news

in Bitcoin price In October 2025, which set new records, the authoritative financial media "Forbes" dropped a bombshell that completely overturned people’s understanding of the relationship between U.S. President Trump and cryptocurrency.

Forbes reports exclusively that Trump is now among the world’s largest Bitcoin investors, indirectly holding approximately $870 million in Bitcoin.

This figure even exceeds the individual valuation of many of his well-known real estate assets.

Trump’s Bitcoin holdings are not held directly but are indirectly held through his Trump Media & Technology Group.

This "detour building" method maximizes his exposure to crypto assets while ensuring compliance.

02 Unveiling Trump’s Bitcoin Empire Structure

Trump’s Bitcoin holdings were not acquired in a one-time purchase, but rather completed gradually through a multi-layered structure. Forbes referred to it as the "crypto exposure empire".

Trump Media & Technology Group is the core of this empire. Its subsidiary, TMTG, which operates the social platform Truth Social, has an annual revenue of less than 4 million dollars, yet the company’s market value on NASDAQ reaches several billion dollars.

In mid-2025, TMTG made a significant strategic shift. The company raised $2.3 billion through debt and the sale of overvalued stocks, and invested $2 billion of that into Bitcoin purchases.

This move makes TMTG one of the largest enterprise-level BTC holdings in the United States, while Trump’s personal Bitcoin holdings are approximately $870 million.

03 The Transformation from Critic to Believer

Trump’s journey in crypto is dramatic, a classic storyline of "from ridicule to faith."

Timeline of Position Changes:

  • 2019: He publicly criticized Bitcoin, saying "It is not a currency, just air."
  • 2021: He criticized cryptocurrency again as a "threat to the sovereignty of the dollar," showing strong hostility towards cryptocurrency.
  • On the eve of the 2024 election: He suddenly announced loudly: "I support the United States becoming the global leader in cryptocurrency, no longer allowing China and other countries to get ahead of us."

This transition paved the way for Trump to become the largest Bitcoin holder in the United States.

During the 2024 campaign, he took a series of pro-crypto asset measures: accepting donations in mainstream tokens such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC, and Solana; launching his own NFT collection; personally attending crypto conferences and publicly sharing the stage with industry leaders.

This makes him the first presidential candidate in American history to support Bitcoin donations.

04 Trump’s Crypto Wealth Kingdom

Bitcoin holdings are just a part of Trump’s vast crypto empire. According to the Financial Times, the Trump family has made over $1 billion in profits from cryptocurrency business in the past year.

Trump’s crypto empire primarily derives its revenue from four major sectors:

  1. Meme coin: The meme coin named after him and his wife has sparked a frenzy in the market, generating approximately $427 million in sales and trading fee revenue.
  2. Stablecoins and Governance Tokens: World Liberty Financial Company generated $550 million and $2.71 billion in revenue through the sale of WLFI governance tokens and USD1 stablecoins, respectively.
  3. Enterprise-level Bitcoin reserves: TMTG’s $2 billion Bitcoin purchase brings Trump’s personal corresponding Bitcoin holdings to approximately $870 million.
  4. NFTs and Digital Trading Cards: Trump has also earned millions of dollars by issuing his own NFT collectibles and digital trading cards, which depict him in the likeness of a superhero among other images.

05 Ingenious Asset Allocation Strategies

Trump did not directly Purchase Bitcoin but instead cleverly avoided regulatory issues through a multi-layered structure.

His four major holding paths include:

  • NFT royalties and on-chain income: The Trump Digital Trading Cards launched in 2022-2023 Polygon On-chain hot sales, royalty income flows directly into its designated wallet.
  • Related company configuration BTC open position: World Liberty Financial, founded by Trump and his family, has launched operations and purchased a large amount of BTC and WBTC.
  • Campaign Donations and Derivative Earnings: Since announcing the acceptance of Bitcoin donations, the team has received tens of thousands of small on-chain BTC payments from around the world, some of which have been retained as BTC/ETH.
  • Offshore custody and family trusts: Remaining large assets may be held in custodian accounts, which cannot be directly tracked on the chain.

This strategy maximizes his exposure to crypto assets while maintaining operational flexibility under compliance.

06 The Collision of Political Power and the Cryptocurrency Market

The news that Trump has become the largest Bitcoin holder in the United States is far more than just a political figure turning into a whale in the crypto space. It represents the first direct binding of the crypto industry with the highest political power in the United States.

Ethics and legal experts point out that Trump’s situation is unprecedented in American history: a sitting president who is also a beneficiary of a rapidly expanding crypto empire.

Unlike other predecessors, Trump did not place his assets in a blind trust but managed them through a revocable trust, being the sole beneficiary, allowing him to access these funds at any time after leaving office.

If Trump takes office again, the US may welcome the most favorable cryptocurrency regulatory environment in history.

Possible policy changes include:

  1. The regulatory framework for stablecoins is clearer and more friendly.
  2. The approval process for BTC ETF is accelerating.
  3. Optimization of Mining Tax Policies
  4. The legalization of cryptocurrency as a comprehensive promotion of campaign donations.

07 Market Impact and Future Outlook

When global capital sees the most influential political figure in the United States holding $870 million in BTC, this in itself is a strong signal: "Bitcoin is not the enemy, but part of the new dollar system."

The changes that the market may迎来 include:

  • The narrative of a political bull market rises: Trump’s holding of Bitcoin makes BTC not just a technological narrative, but a tool for the redistribution of financial power.
  • Institutional investment accelerates: If even the president is holding large amounts, the psychological barriers for traditional institutional investors will be significantly reduced.
  • The discussion of Bitcoin as a national asset is heating up: this may catalyze the discussion on Bitcoin reserves by the US government.

From "scam currency" to "presidential asset", from rejection to embrace, Bitcoin has finally entered the center of power in the United States.

Trump’s transformation is not just a personal wealth story, but it may reshape the global crypto landscape.

Future Outlook

As of October 20, the Bitcoin trading pairs on Gate remain actively traded. Trump’s shift in attitude towards Bitcoin and the market behavior undoubtedly provide strong confidence support for the crypto world.

The lines between politics and crypto assets are becoming blurred, as a former president who had publicly criticized Bitcoin quietly becomes its largest holder, leading to a silent but profound revolution in the traditional financial power structure.

Trump’s crypto empire story is a modern fable that illustrates how power, wealth, and technology intertwine.

The content herein does not constitute any offer, solicitation, or recommendation. You should always seek independent professional advice before making any investment decisions. Please note that Gate may restrict or prohibit the use of all or a portion of the Services from Restricted Locations. For more information, please read the User Agreement
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