From Real Estate to Crypto: Eric Trump Explains Why Bitcoin Makes More Sense

Eric Trump, son of former U.S. President Donald Trump, has embraced bitcoin as a modern-day store of value—likening it to “digital gold.” He credits political pressures as a catalyst for his interest in the crypto space and is now playing a key role in a bitcoin mining venture that’s heading for the public markets.

Speaking at Consensus 2025 in Toronto, Trump shared how his entry into cryptocurrency wasn’t driven by technology or investment trends, but rather by a surprising alignment between his family and the crypto community—both of whom he says faced unjust political targeting.

“The same people who came after my family also went after the crypto world,” Trump said, noting that this shared experience brought the two sides closer. “That bond has become something pretty powerful.”

Though his background lies in real estate, Trump explained that navigating the political spotlight made him reassess the rigidity of that industry compared to the speed and simplicity of digital assets. “Selling a hotel took me a year and a half,” he said. “With bitcoin, it's different—you don't have to manage it, you don't need a title report, and it's instantly transferable.”

Trump now serves as the co-founder and chief strategy officer of American Bitcoin, a mining company launched in partnership with Hut 8. The company is preparing to go public via a merger with Gryphon Digital Mining (GRYP), part of a strategy to scale rapidly. According to Hut 8 CEO Asher Genoot, choosing a name that included both "American" and "Bitcoin" was a deliberate branding move meant to emphasize national identity and crypto focus.

For Eric Trump, the name reflects his broader vision. “It had to be American. It had to be Bitcoin. That’s what it’s all about.”

Would you trust a crypto company co-founded by someone from a politically polarizing family?