What's happened
Nearly 1 million holders have lost about $3.81 billion by end of June on President Trump’s memecoin, while the former president reports a $636 million payout from crypto ventures, including WLFI, as scrutiny grows over crypto promotions tied to his campaign.
What's behind the headline?
What happened
- The NYT and TechCrunch report that nearly 1 million buyers have lost money in the Trump memecoin by end of June, with total losses around $3.81 billion.
- Trump has disclosed a $636 million payout from crypto ventures, part of at least $2.2 billion in 2025.
Why this matters
- The memecoin market is attracting high-profile political figures, prompting questions about promotions and potential conflicts of interest.
- The Trump brand is intertwined with crypto ventures, raising scrutiny of regulatory and disclosure practices.
What to watch
- Regulatory stance on memecoins and potential enforcement actions may shift as promotions continue.
- Investor protection measures could influence similar celebrity-backed tokens in the future.
How we got here
The stories from TechCrunch and The New York Times Business show a surge of crypto investment tied to President Trump, who founded World Liberty Financial with his sons and launched the $TRUMP memecoin three days before his inauguration. WLFI also features in the disclosures; the broader crypto investments contributed to a multi-billion-dollar haul in 2025.
Our analysis
New York Times Business reports; TechCrunch analysis. The Times documents a $636M payout and WLFI venture details, while TechCrunch outlines losses from $TRUMP memecoin. Both are citing public blockchain data and disclosure filings; the NYT provides investigative context.
Go deeper
- How should investors assess celebrity-backed memecoins now?
- What regulatory changes could affect future celebrity crypto launches?
- Which other ventures is Trump linked to in the crypto space?
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