Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, reportedly holds $250,000 worth of Ethereum, per a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) by WatcherGuru, a platform known for providing insights into cryptocurrencies and finance. This revelation comes in the midst of an ongoing court investigation into Trump’s financial records, including his involvement with cryptocurrencies.
Trump and members of his inner circle have been recognized for their interest in cryptocurrency. The current investigation seeks to determine the extent of Trump’s engagement with digital assets and whether any legal boundaries were crossed in his crypto dealings.
In 2022, Trump publicly endorsed an NFT collection named Trump Digital Trading Cards. Following his endorsement, the value of the NFT soared, reaching an all-time high of 0.84 ETH. However, the price subsequently collapsed in line with the broader crypto market downturn, resulting in an 85% loss, with the value of Trump Digital Trading Cards dropping to 0.12 ETH.
The former President’s wife, Melania Trump, has also been involved in the NFT space. She created and sold NFTs featuring well-known images from the Apollo lunar landings of the 1960s and 1970s, pricing them at $75 each. This move drew criticism from NASA, which stated that she violated their rules regarding the use of their images for NFTs. NASA’s regulations explicitly prohibit the use of their images in connection with NFTs, as outlined in their Media Usage Guidelines.
Trump’s ownership of Ethereum does not appear to be in violation of any U.S. laws, as the cryptocurrency is approved by regulators in the country. Ethereum is not classified as a security and has not been involved in any recent legal actions by the SEC against crypto exchanges within the United States.
The disclosure of Trump’s Ethereum holdings adds to the growing narrative of political figures and celebrities engaging with cryptocurrencies and NFTs. It also highlights the complex legal landscape surrounding the use of digital assets, particularly when associated with high-profile individuals.