Trump Avoids Divestment Talk as Crypto Conflict Clouds Regulation Push

Trump Avoids Divestment Talk as Crypto Conflict Clouds Regulation Push

Concerns over presidential ties to crypto spark partisan divide as Democrats demand clearer ethical lines before backing industry bills.

Trump Deflects Divestment Inquiry at White House Briefing

U.S. President Donald Trump deflected a direct question on Friday regarding whether he would divest from his family’s cryptocurrency holdings to ease the passage of major crypto regulation bills in Congress.

Speaking from the White House Press Room, Trump framed the issue as a national priority rather than a personal one.

“I became a fan of crypto, and to me, it’s an industry,” Trump said. “If we did not have it, China would… and we have dominated that industry. That is much more important than anything we invest in.”

His remarks did little to ease growing unease among lawmakers, particularly Democrats, who have stated that they will not support digital asset legislation until potential conflicts of interest are resolved.

Democrats Demand Limits on Presidential Crypto Ties

The friction comes as Congress inches closer to comprehensive digital asset regulation, a bipartisan effort gaining momentum since early 2024. Yet, Trump’s personal and familial crypto exposure has emerged as a sticking point.

Last week, the Senate passed the GENIUS Stablecoin Bill in a 68-30 vote, but not without controversy. Proposed amendments from Democrats seeking to limit a U.S. president’s financial stake in crypto ventures were rejected.

In response, Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced the Curbing Officials’ Income and Nondisclosure (COIN) Act. The proposed law aims to prohibit the president, their family, and executive officials from endorsing or issuing digital assets.

“Donald Trump and other senior administration officials have made a fortune off of crypto schemes,” Schiff wrote on X. “Today, I am introducing the COIN Act to put a stop to this corruption in plain sight.”