President Donald Trump firmly defended the more than $1.4 billion he earned from cryptocurrency ventures in 2025, dismissing conflict-of-interest concerns and asserting there was “nothing illegal” about the income. Speaking during a CNBC interview on Thursday, the president clarified that he does not directly manage the investments responsible for the profits. Instead, outside financial firms and his son, Eric Trump, oversee his assets while he focuses on his presidential duties.
The remarks came just days after Trump’s annual financial disclosure revealed cryptocurrency had become his largest source of income. The filing also showed an extraordinarily active investment record, with over 22,000 securities trades across eight accounts, a portfolio valued at least $858 million with holdings in 1,600 companies. The disclosure added pressure over possible conflicts between his personal finances and policy decisions.
In the same interview, Trump declared the United States the “global leader in both cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence,” crediting his administration’s policies. The statement reflects his sustained public embrace of digital assets and follows a year where crypto-related businesses generated unprecedented personal returns for the sitting president.
