Tesla investor and Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management CEO Ross Gerber blamed U.S. President Donald Trump for the Bitcoin crash after Trump's annual filing revealed he profited $1.2 billion from crypto businesses in 2025. Gerber called Trump's crypto ventures a 'grift' in response to the disclosure. Trump launched multiple crypto projects including the Official Trump meme coin and World Liberty Financial protocol, both of which have declined sharply since their respective peaks despite his pro-crypto policy shift during the 2024 presidential campaign.
Trump Reports $1.2 Billion Crypto Profit in 2025 Filing
According to Trump's latest filing with the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, the president profited from different crypto ventures and holdings including the Official Trump (TRUMP) meme coin, the decentralized finance protocol World Liberty Financial (WLFI), and Bitcoin and Ethereum holdings. Trump launched the eponymous meme coin days prior to his presidential inauguration in January 2025. TRUMP hit the all-time high of $73.43 on Jan. 19 but began to crash and has failed to recover. The meme coin is currently trading at $1.71, more than 97% lower than its ATH. World Liberty Financial's native token WLFI got unlocked for spot trading on Sep. 1, 2025, and hit the ATH of $0.3313 the same day. The token is currently trading at $0.0579, 80% lower than its ATH.
Majority of Trump Meme Coin and WLFI Investors Face Losses
Gerber mentioned a recent Wall Street Journal report that cited data from onchain analytics platform Nansen to claim that around two-thirds of a total of 1.48 million investors in Trump's meme coin and 85% of investors in the WLFI token are facing losses. The crypto industry was among the top donors during the 2024 election cycle and has already spent $189 million in the run-up to the midterms elections in November 2025. The industry has supported candidates across the political aisle.
Paul Krugman Warned Bitcoin Is a Trump Trade
Gerber isn't the only one to blame Trump for the Bitcoin crash. Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman warned in October last year that Bitcoin is a 'Trump trade' because the president favors the cryptocurrency. Bitcoin's price began surging as Trump vowed to make the U.S. the 'Bitcoin superpower of the world' after winning the election in November 2024. When Trump threatened a 100% tariff on China, Bitcoin crashed following the Oct. 10 'flash crash,' Krugman highlighted. He called it a 'Trump trade,' arguing that the crash had 'little to do with economics and everything to do with politics.' Krugman wrote: 'And crypto fell because the backlash against the potential trade war threatened to weaken Trump politically.' As Trump's poll numbers began sinking, so did Bitcoin, Krugman said, adding that those early to the 'Trump trade' made money by dumping their Bitcoin holdings on 'Trump believers.' In 2021, Trump called Bitcoin a 'scam' that threatens the U.S. dollar, but he turned pro-crypto during the 2024 presidential campaign. After coming to the White House for the second time, he has taken several pro-industry steps such as an executive order to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve, signing the GENIUS Act into law to regulate USD-pegged stablecoins, and the administration dropping securities violations cases against major crypto firms. Bitcoin hit the all-time high of $126,080 on Oct. 6, 2025. Bitcoin was trading at $61,406 at press time as per Decibel.
FAQ
What did Trump's 2025 financial disclosure reveal about his crypto income?
Trump's latest filing with the U.S. Office of Government Ethics revealed he profited $1.2 billion from crypto businesses in 2025, including the Official Trump meme coin, World Liberty Financial protocol, and Bitcoin and Ethereum holdings.
Why did Ross Gerber blame Trump for the Bitcoin crash?
Gerber blamed Trump for the Bitcoin crash after the disclosure showed Trump profited $1.2 billion from crypto ventures while two-thirds of 1.48 million investors in Trump's meme coin and 85% of WLFI token investors are facing losses, according to Nansen data cited by the Wall Street Journal.
How did Trump's crypto tokens perform since launch?
The Official Trump meme coin hit an all-time high of $73.43 on Jan. 19 but is currently trading at $1.71, more than 97% lower. World Liberty Financial's WLFI token hit an all-time high of $0.3313 on Sep. 1, 2025, but is currently trading at $0.0579, 80% lower.
