The Trump family is rapidly expanding its footprint in the cryptocurrency sector, and this time, it’s all about Bitcoin mining.
Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. have announced that their venture, American Data Centers, will merge with and acquire a 20% stake in American Bitcoin, a new mining entity majority-owned by Hut 8 Corp, a leading crypto-infrastructure company based in Miami. The goal? To build one of the largest Bitcoin mining operations in the world and establish a proprietary “Bitcoin reserve.”
This bold move marks another step in the Trump family’s broader push into digital assets—a strategy that increasingly aligns with President Donald Trump’s recent declarations to make the United States the “crypto capital of the world” should he return to the White House.
The Trumps’ Expanding Crypto Empire
In just a few months, the Trump family has launched or backed multiple cryptocurrency ventures:
World Liberty Financial – A decentralized finance (DeFi) project.
Trump-themed meme coins – Created to capitalize on the popularity of Donald Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump.
A stablecoin initiative – Tied to the World Liberty Dollar.
Social media crypto investment plans – The Trump-backed media company Truth Social has hinted at investing in Bitcoin and other digital assets.
Eric Trump sees the family’s move into crypto as a natural extension of their traditional real estate business. “We are a hard-asset family. I’m a hard-asset guy,” he told The Wall Street Journal. “There’s never been a better hedge than digital assets.”
Inside the Deal With Hut 8
Founded in February 2025, American Data Centers is a joint venture between the Trump brothers and Dominari Holdings, a small investment firm that recently appointed them as strategic advisers. Through the new deal:
- Hut 8 will contribute nearly 61,000 specialized Bitcoin-mining rigs to the new entity.
- In return, Hut 8 will retain an 80% ownership stake in American Bitcoin.
- No cash was exchanged in the transaction.
The new company will operate as an independent venture, separate from the Trump Organization. However, Eric Trump noted that collaborations between World Liberty Financial and American Bitcoin are possible in the future.
Leadership and Strategy
- Eric Trump will serve as Chief Strategy Officer of American Bitcoin.
- Mike Ho, Hut 8’s Chief Strategy Officer, will become Executive Chairman.
- Matt Prusak, former Chief Commercial Officer at Hut 8, will take over as CEO.
- High-profile investors Justin Mateen (Tinder co-founder) and Michael Broukhim (FabFitFun co-founder) will join the board of directors alongside Hut 8 executives.
Hut 8 plans to host the mining hardware in its 11 existing low-cost, energy-efficient data centers across the U.S., giving the joint venture a potential edge over global competitors.
Why Now? The Bitcoin Mining Opportunity
Bitcoin mining involves using powerful servers to solve complex cryptographic puzzles, which in turn unlocks new Bitcoin. However, mining has become increasingly difficult and energy-intensive:
- More than 90% of Bitcoin’s total supply (21 million coins) has already been mined.
- Rising Bitcoin prices have attracted a surge of new miners, increasing competition.
- Environmental concerns persist due to the high energy demands of mining operations.
Despite these challenges, industry insiders see long-term opportunity. “There’s still 100-plus years of mining left,” said Hut 8 CEO Asher Genoot. “The key to survival is becoming the lowest-cost and most efficient miner.”
Eric Trump added that American Bitcoin stands to benefit from declining U.S. energy prices, positioning domestic miners to outperform international competitors. “America actually has a government that wants low-cost energy,” he noted. “That gives U.S. bitcoin miners a real advantage.”
A Potential Conflict of Interest?
While supporters hail the Trump family’s venture into crypto as forward-thinking, others raise ethical concerns, especially with Donald Trump as President.
“This isn’t just hotels and golf courses anymore—crypto could have systemic effects on the economy,” said Richard Painter, a former ethics lawyer for President George W. Bush. “Any political family involved in crypto presents a serious potential for conflicts of interest.”
What This Means for Crypto and Investors
The Trump family’s all-in commitment to cryptocurrency, especially Bitcoin mining, underscores the growing political and financial importance of digital assets in America’s economic future. If successful, American Bitcoin could become a dominant player in a global industry expected to see massive growth in the next decade.
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