Donald Trump Jr.'s investment in a "reserve Bitcoin marketing company" has sparked controversy, adding another entry to the US presidential family's encryption layout.

Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of the U.S. President, recently revealed that he has invested in the social media marketing company Thumzup Media Corp. This company adopts a strategy of using Bitcoin (BTC) as a financial asset, which has sparked widespread attention in the market and political circles. This investment by Trump Jr. not only connects him more closely with the Crypto Assets field but also adds another layer to the Trump family's layout in the Crypto Assets arena, while also raising controversies regarding Bitcoin's financial strategies.

Donald Trump's latest crypto investment

According to Bloomberg, Donald Trump Jr. currently holds 350,000 shares of Thumzup Media Corp, valued at approximately $3.3 million, with the stock trading at around $9.50 per share.

Thumzup Media Corp is a social media marketing company, one of its core strategies is to use Bitcoin as an official financial asset. In November 2024, the Thumzup board approved Bitcoin as an official financial asset, allowing the purchase of BTC worth up to $1 million. CEO Robert Steele stated after the decision: "With the recent approval of Bitcoin ETFs and the growing institutional support, Bitcoin will be a solid addition to our funding strategy. Its limited supply and inflation protection characteristics make it an ideal store of value asset."

In May of this year, Thumzup also submitted documents to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) planning to raise $200 million through the issuance of stocks and bonds to further expand its Bitcoin investment portfolio. According to data, the company has been increasing its holdings since January and currently holds 19.11 BTC, worth over $2.1 million.

Bitcoin Financial Strategy: Long-Term Trend or Bubble?

Since 2024, an increasing number of companies have adopted the model of holding Bitcoin as treasury bonds, sparking debate among analysts about the sustainability of this trend and whether it represents a long-term turning point or merely a bubble effect leading to the next recession.

The pioneer of this strategy is Michael Saylor, the founder of Strategy company, who transformed his software company into a "Bitcoin treasury" in 2020. Since then, 258 institutions (including investment funds, publicly traded companies, private enterprises, crypto assets custodians, and even government entities) have added Bitcoin to their reserve assets.

However, some analysts believe that this trend is unsustainable, as many "imitator" companies lack real confidence in this limited supply digital asset. Bitcoin supporter Max Keiser pointed out that Strategy Company has experienced multiple market cycles and continues to accumulate during downturns—something new companies have never experienced. A report released in June by venture capital fund Breed also presented a similar view: most existing Bitcoin financial companies will be unable to survive a BTC price crash and may face collapse.

The Trump Family's Crypto Assets Layout and Controversies

This investment by Donald Trump Jr. further enriches the Trump family's layout in the Crypto Assets field. Previously, Donald Trump himself had also launched a meme coin and held a large stake in the Crypto Assets company World Liberty Financial along with his family, particularly in the stablecoin project USD1. These actions have sparked strong criticism from political opponents, who believe there are potential conflicts of interest and opportunities for bribery.

The Trump family's cryptocurrency investments have drawn strong criticism from political opponents. Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Senator Elizabeth Warren have expressed concerns about potential conflicts of interest and bribery opportunities. Waters stated that Trump's shares in WLFI opened the door for foreign entities to purchase access to presidential visits. She also criticized the launch of the Trump meme coin, claiming that the coin has cost investors at least $2 billion, while Trump and his family have profited at least $350 million from it.

Donald Trump Jr.'s investment in Thumzup Media Corp has once again brought the Trump family's relationship with the Crypto Assets sector into the spotlight. This investment is not only an extension of the family's encryption strategy but also pushes the controversy surrounding Bitcoin's financial strategy into broader discussions. As more companies and individuals incorporate Bitcoin into their asset allocation, the sustainability of this strategy and the potential risks it may bring will continue to be a focus of market attention.