Fresh out of Barnard College with a degree in political science, Riley is a writer and reporter for GZERO. When she isn’t writing about global politics, you can find her making GZERO’s crossword puzzles, conducting research on American politics, or persisting in her lifelong quest to learn French. Riley spends her time outside of work grilling, dancing, and wearing many hats (both literally and figuratively).
Donald Trump’s crypto empire is expanding rapidly — and it’s sending shockwaves through both Washington and the digital-asset world. Once a vocal crypto skeptic, Trump has reemerged as the industry's most powerful advocate since returning to the White House. His business interests now span from the $TRUMP meme coin and crypto startups like World Liberty Financial to a new plan by Trump Media & Technology Group to raise $2.5 billion for Bitcoin, announced on Tuesday.As the White House advances crypto-friendly policies, critics warn of blurred lines between Trump’s public role and private interests. A new report from State Democracy Defenders Action estimates that crypto holdings now make up nearly 40% of the president’s net worth — roughly $2.9 billion. Even within the industry, some worry the close entanglement could ultimately do more harm than good.
