November 17 2025
Speaking at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. criticized the traditional financial system and highlighted the shift to pro-crypto policies in the US, along with their digital asset projects. The brothers’ comments demonstrate the Trump family’s increasing intertwining with the cryptocurrency community amid concerns from critics over potential conflicts of interest.
During a conversation that lasted about 30 minutes, they urged people to buy Bitcoin and touted the benefits of their decentralized finance platform World Liberty Fi, a stark contrast to statements made by President Trump at last year’s Bitcoin conference.
Eric Trump noted, “I’d like to see some of the big banks go extinct, because frankly, they deserve it. You go and take out $500 and you’re on a terrorist watch list somewhere.” He continued, “And now, all of a sudden, you have crypto… it makes the financial system faster, safer, more transparent.”
The brothers’ comments on Bitcoin’s growing adoption in the U.S. followed an earlier appearance by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance at the Bitcoin 2025 conference. The appearances by the Trump family and senior Trump administration officials come as U.S. regulators and lawmakers are increasingly embracing crypto assets under Trump’s leadership.
In the first five months of the second Trump administration, the president signed several executive actions in support of Bitcoin, such as the request for the creation of a strategic Bitcoin reserve in the U.S. Treasury Department and the ban on Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). The rights of Bitcoin miners were also addressed.
More broadly, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has eased regulations for digital asset companies and holders under President Trump, with enforcement actions against several major crypto exchanges such as Kraken and Coinbase were shut down.
Lawmakers have also stepped up their efforts to codify operational guidelines for the cryptocurrency industry, committing to advancing broader market structure legislation later this year as well as moving forward with a stablecoin bill expected to pass this summer.
The ongoing regulatory and legislative overhaul has repositioned the US as a major crypto hub, a turnaround from the previously crypto-skeptical policies under President Joe Biden.
As a result, exchange Deribit and other companies are making plans to set up shop in the US, while several non-crypto companies are actively exploring how to integrate crypto into their business strategies, such as adopting tokens like Solana, Bitcoin or Ethereum for their reserves or by integrating Bitcoin payments into their operations, as done by Steak 'n Shake.
Eric Trump referred to the growing adoption of Bitcoin by both institutions and retail investors: “Everybody wants Bitcoin. Everybody is buying it.” This indicates the continued popularity of digital assets.
The Trump family, including Eric and Donald Jr., have become increasingly intertwined with the crypto industry in recent months.
The family is associated with a series of Trump-themed NFTs and the official Trump and Melania meme coins. President Trump recently attended a private dinner for the top 220 $Trump holders, which led to widespread criticism from the US media, politicians and the public.
The family also backs decentralized finance platform World Liberty Fi, which launched late last year, with Trump Sr. and his two eldest sons serving on the project's support team, according to WLFi's Gold Paper.
Eric, as Vice President of the Trump Family Organization, also heads Trump Media & Technology, the company that owns Truth Social. This company has been involved in two different crypto projects: launching several Bitcoin and other crypto-based ETFs and raising $2,5 billion for Bitcoin investments.
He has also co-founded a digital asset mining company, American Bitcoin, with his brother, Donald Trump Jr., which plans to go public later this year.
Critics have condemned the president and his family's involvement in the cryptocurrency sector, alleging that President Trump is abusing his office for personal enrichment.
A report from the nonprofit State Democracy Defenders Action estimates that the Trump family's crypto investments have increased their wealth by $2,9 billion, with these assets accounting for nearly 40% of his net worth.
Donald Jr. spoke about his family’s involvement in digital asset matters, saying, “We’re really active in crypto; it’s a huge part of everything we do right now.”
What are the key themes discussed by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. at the Bitcoin 2025 conference?
They discussed the benefits of decentralized finance, encouraged the purchase of Bitcoin, and introduced their project World Liberty Fi.
How has the Trump administration affected the crypto landscape in the US?
Under the Trump administration, several executive actions have been taken to support Bitcoin, and the SEC has reduced enforcement actions against crypto exchanges, positioning the US as a major crypto hub.
What are critics' concerns about the Trump family's involvement in the cryptocurrency industry?
Critics allege the president is abusing his office for personal enrichment, arguing that their crypto investments have increased their wealth by $2,9 billion, representing about 40% of his net worth.
Bitcoin (BTC)
Ethereum (ETH)
XRP (XRP)
