When American Bitcoin Corp., a bitcoin mining company linked to Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, made its global debut on the Nasdaq, it caught the financial world off guard. The stock surged as high as $14.52 before settling at $8.04 by the close—a still impressive 16.5% gain. Those figures placed the Trump brothers’ 20% stake in the company at around $1.5 billion by the end of the first trading day, and at its peak, their ownership was valued as high as $2.6 billion.
This dramatic stock performance underscores a broader shift in the Trump family’s business focus—from their traditional stronghold in real estate and golf resorts toward the volatile and rapidly growing crypto arena. According to Eric Trump, at least half of his current professional energy is tied to cryptocurrency ventures. New enterprises like American Bitcoin and the World Liberty Financial token indicate a full‑scale pivot toward digital assets.
That said, this high-stakes foray has drawn its share of criticism. Observers cite potential conflicts of interest, especially given the president’s push for favorable crypto legislation and his family members’ open involvement in crypto ventures. Eric Trump was quick to brush aside such concerns, calling them “insane” and emphasizing that his father is “running a nation” and not involved in their business dealings.