Written by Turner Wrightstaff writerReviewed by Robert Lakinstaff editor

Written by Turner Wrightstaff writer

Reviewed by Robert Lakinstaff editor

Trump cost investors $4.7B through crypto ‘schemes’: Public Citizen

Latest NewsPublishedAug 27, 2026

While investors in World Liberty Financial‘s USD1 stablecoin “haven’t suffered major losses,” many lost billions of dollars in other Trump ventures, as reported by Public Citizen.

The nonprofit consumer advocacy organization Public Citizen reported that US President Donald Trump “left investors at least an estimated $4.7 billion underwater” since 2022 through his and his family’s digital asset ventures.

as reported by Public Citizen, investors lost billions of dollars through the Trump family World Liberty Financial governance token, the president’s nonfungible token (NFT) trading cards introduced in 2022, his memecoin Official Trump (TRUMP) and Trump Media’s digital asset treasury. 

The bulk of the estimated losses, as reported by the organization, came from investors in the TRUMP memecoin, with $3.2 billion lost, while buyers of World Liberty Financial‘s USD1 stablecoin “haven’t suffered major losses.” Public Citizen stated that in the case of the memecoin, the losses represented “wealth transferred to a small group of early buyers rather than money that simply vanished.”

Estimated losses for investors in Donald Trump’s crypto ventures. Source: Public Citizen

as reported by Public Citizen, amid the $4.7 billion in investor losses, Trump earned $7.2 million from the NFT licensing fees and royalties, more than $600 million from World Liberty token sales and selling an equity stake, $635 million in licensing fees for his memecoin and $197 million in revenue from capital contributions to World Liberty. This did not reflect the stakes in companies and ventures he continues to hold. Some of the figures were included in the president’s 2025 disclosures, reporting $1.4 billion in earnings tied to crypto.

Related: Most Americans say the Trump family’s crypto investments are not ‘appropriate’: Poll

Cointelegraph reached out to the White House for comment but did not receive an immediate response. Spokesperson Anna Kelly has repeatedly stated in response to questions on Trump’s crypto investments that there were “no conflicts of interest.”

Crypto bill still weeks away from potential vote

Amid the crypto ventures and more “potentially on the way” from Trump, the group renewed calls for ethics provisions in a cryptocurrency market structure bill, the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act, claiming that “the president’s policy choices and personal portfolio cannot be separated” and any legislation should require a US president and his family to divest from projects in the industry.

Trump met with crypto company executives last week, calling for a “fair version” of the CLARITY Act to pass once the Senate returns to session next month. The bill is scheduled for a cloture vote on Sept. 15, which will require votes from at least 60 senators to advance.

Magazine: SEC’s proposed crypto rules probably won’t spark new ICO boom

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.

• Cryptocurrency Investment
• Donald Trump
• Corruption
• Memecoin
• Stablecoin
• NFT
• Regulation

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