Trump family’s $5 billion crypto windfall and the dubious ties to Pakistan’s cash-strapped military | Explained

US President Donald Trump (C), flanked by his sons Eric Trump (R) and Donald Trump Jr. (L) reacts after cutting the ribbon on the first tee to officially open the Trump International Golf Links course in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland on July 29, 2025. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)

The Trump family has made a dramatic leap into the world of cryptocurrency. Their new project, World Liberty Financial (WLF), launched its own token, WLFI, on September 1 and on paper it instantly gave the family a fortune of more than five billion dollars. Donald Trump calls himself the “crypto president” and his sons, Eric and Donald Jr., along with his son-in-law Jared Kushner, control most of the company.

While this sudden wealth has drawn headlines, it has also raised questions about ethics and foreign ties. The venture has signed a deal with Pakistan’s new crypto council at a time when Pakistan’s military is desperate for money. This mix of politics, private profit and global finance could have serious consequences.

Trump’s sudden crypto fortune

World Liberty Financial has presented itself as a bold new player in digital money. The company has created a dollar-linked stablecoin, promised a mobile app and raised hundreds of millions of dollars from investors. When WLFI tokens began trading, about one billion dollars’ worth changed hands in the first hour. The price briefly jumped to around 40 cents before falling closer to 20 cents. Because the Trump family holds more than 22 billion tokens, even a small increase in price produces billions in paper wealth.

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The President’s own share is described as “co-founder emeritus” and gives him a direct personal stake in a sector he is also shaping with new laws. It is a textbook case of public power meeting private gain.

Pakistan’s crypto push and conflicts of interest

The concerns deepen with WLF’s link to Pakistan. In April 2025 WLF signed a deal with the Pakistan Crypto Council, a new body set up to push digital currency in that country. At the same time a young British-Pakistani entrepreneur named Bilal bin Saqib was made an adviser to WLF while also running Pakistan’s crypto council and later serving as special assistant to the Prime Minister on blockchain. This means the same person was representing Pakistan and the Trump family at once.

Pakistan has since moved to build a government bitcoin reserve, open mining projects and bring in Binance founder Changpeng Zhao as an adviser even after his guilty plea in the United States over money laundering violations. For a country long accused of using shadow networks to fund militants, crypto provides a powerful new tool.

Americans left behind

While the Trumps celebrate their new billions, millions of American families are paying the price of higher costs. Tariffs imposed by President Trump on imports from China, India and Europe have raised the price of many goods. Senator Patty Murray has said that households are losing about 2,400 dollars a year because of these tariffs.

Government data show that food prices rose 0.2 percent from June to July and are expected to climb 3.4 percent by the end of the year, well above the long-term average. What once cost 150 dollars at the supermarket now costs closer to 200. The picture is clear. A well-connected political family is growing richer through risky crypto deals while ordinary Americans struggle to afford everyday life.