Trump’s Billion-Dollar Windfall: Crypto Fees Far Outpace Investor Gains

CNN reports that Donald Trump launched the $TRUMP memecoin ahead of his inauguration, and while most investors in the token lost money as its value collapsed, Trump’s companies collected hundreds of millions in transaction fees, licensing revenue, and token sales. The Trump Organization affiliates reportedly control about 80% of the supply, allowing him to profit from the token’s market activity regardless of price moves. Overall crypto gains attributed to 2025 largely came from these crypto-related revenue streams rather than direct investments, even as the broader market saw a sharp decline from peak valuations.