President Donald Trump’s net worth has soared 183% in the first two years of his second term, a surge largely fueled by cryptocurrency-related ventures, according to an analysis by Wall Street veteran Steve Rattner. This dwarfs the wealth increases of previous presidents during the same period — Bush (35%), Obama (47%), and Biden (5%) — and highlights the unprecedented intersection of the presidency and digital assets.
Rattner noted that approximately 74% of Trump’s wealth increase came from new business initiatives launched while in office, including the World Liberty Financial (WLF) platform and its USD1 stablecoin, the Official Trump (TRUMP) memecoin, and various licensing agreements. “Much of Trump’s new billions come from deals he made while in office,” Rattner said, pointing out that none of the other recent presidents generated revenue from post-inauguration ventures.
In a parallel development, Trump has signed off on an ethics provision that would prohibit federal officials — including the president, vice president, and members of Congress — from issuing cryptocurrencies. The language, part of the broader Clarity Act, puts the Department of Justice in charge of enforcement rather than state attorneys general. This has sparked debate, with Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) expressing concern that DOJ enforcement is “an unserious offer” and threatening to block the bill. The ethics rule comes after financial disclosures showed Trump received millions from WLF, intensifying calls for safeguards against conflicts of interest.
The White House maintains it is working with lawmakers to pass the Clarity Act and blames Democrats for any potential failure. The ethics provision, seen as the final obstacle, could shape the future of crypto regulation and governance.
