Quick Summary
- New Bill Alert: Rep. Maxine Waters introduces the “TRUMP in Crypto Act of 2025”, targeting political leaders’ involvement in crypto.
- Who’s Affected: The bill would prohibit Presidents, Vice Presidents, Congress members, and their relatives from launching or endorsing cryptocurrencies.
- Why Now: Comes after Donald Trump and his family’s ventures into memecoins and stablecoins, including a new Trump-backed USD1.
- Raising Red Flags: Lawmakers and activists protest Trump’s crypto-linked fundraising dinner at his D.C. golf club.
- Waters’ Warning: Claims these crypto moves pose “political risks” and open doors for foreign influence over U.S. policy.
Politics Meets Crypto—And Not Everyone’s Cheering
In a bold move to curb the growing intersection between politics and cryptocurrency, California Representative Maxine Waters has proposed legislation that could shake up how political leaders engage with digital assets.
Officially named the “Stop Trading, Retention, and Unfair Market Payoffs (TRUMP) in Crypto Act of 2025,” the bill directly targets political figures—especially those in office or related to them—who attempt to launch or endorse crypto ventures.
The Trump Trigger
This legislative push follows a wave of crypto activity tied to former President Donald Trump and his family, including:
- A memecoin launched by Trump and Melania earlier this year.
- The promotion of a family-supported stablecoin, USD1, via World Liberty Financial.
- Calls to establish a national Bitcoin reserve.
Waters, who is the ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, sees these actions as more than personal finance plays. She warns of political manipulation wrapped in digital tokens.
“Donald Trump is getting ready to dine with his favorite memecoin donors who’ve made him, and his family, richer,” Waters said.
“Trump’s crypto con isn’t merely a bait-and-switch to fleece investors. It’s also a risky backdoor for trading influence over American policy to the highest foreign bidder.”
Crypto Fundraising Sparks Uproar
Fueling the controversy is an exclusive dinner planned at the Trump National Golf Club near Washington, D.C., where top Trump memecoin holders will be celebrated. The event has drawn backlash from Democrats and advocacy groups alike.
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Chris Murphy are set to appear alongside consumer rights group Public Citizen at a press conference condemning the event. Simultaneously, Democratic organizations are rallying supporters to protest what they see as ethically murky fundraising using crypto.
What’s at Stake?
Waters’ bill is the first of its kind to directly confront the crypto-politics crossover, spotlighting a growing challenge in American governance: where financial innovation and public accountability collide.
As cryptocurrencies continue to gain traction, the bill could shape a new era of regulatory boundaries—one where public office and private coins no longer mix.
Final Thought: With crypto quickly evolving into a political tool, the TRUMP in Crypto Act signals the beginning of a larger reckoning. Can digital currencies coexist with democratic transparency? Or will legislation like Waters’ draw the line?