Trump’s financial report reveals major crypto and property income

Donald Trump’s latest financial disclosure reveals substantial cryptocurrency and real estate earnings. The US President declared $57.35 million in income from token sales tied to World Liberty Financial, alongside holdings of over 15 billion governance tokens in the same venture.

The filing, signed on 13 June, does not specify its coverage period but appears to reflect finances through December 2024. The timing suggests that more recent profits from the Trump family’s crypto activities were not included.

Beyond digital assets, the report shows Trump’s income remains heavily reliant on property holdings. His Florida resorts and Mar-a-Lago private club brought in over $217 million, while a development licence in Vietnam added $5 million.

A significant portion of Trump’s paper wealth remains linked to his stake in Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company of Truth Social.

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Bitcoin price climbs as Google searches drop

Bitcoin has surged to around $107,000, close to its all-time high, yet global search interest has dropped to a five-year low. While past price jumps were matched by public curiosity, current data suggests a notable lack of retail attention.

Analysts believe the trend reflects a shift in how Bitcoin is perceived. No longer a fringe phenomenon, the cryptocurrency has matured into a mainstream asset.

Institutional investors, ETFs, and even governments are now the driving force behind Bitcoin’s momentum, with companies such as Ark Invest and Metaplanet continuing to increase their holdings.

Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley noted the rally appears quieter because corporate players are accumulating Bitcoin strategically, unlike the hype-fuelled surges of previous cycles. Meanwhile, retail interest may be shifting to flashier sectors such as AI tokens and memecoins.

Falling search traffic may signal that Bitcoin has entered a more stable phase. Rather than trending online, it is now being treated as a serious long-term investment — a possible sign of growing market maturity.

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Vitalik unveils Lean Ethereum for post-quantum protection

Ethereum developers have revealed a ‘Lean Ethereum‘ roadmap that seeks to simplify the blockchain’s base layer while preparing it for post-quantum security. The proposal was discussed by co-founder Vitalik Buterin and researcher Justin Drake during a Berlin conference session.

The plan prioritises three core goals: enhanced security through post-quantum signatures, reduced complexity in Ethereum’s structure, and improved efficiency to lower latency and costs.

Developers are already exploring four research tracks, including a three-step-finality protocol, quantum-resistant signatures, zero-knowledge virtual machines, and improved data layering through erasure coding.

Under the broader ‘lean’ concept, Ethereum may soon adopt lean staking, verifiability for low-power devices, and simplified cryptographic design. Modular logic and formal checks are part of the plan, aligned with zkEVM pilots and inclusion list development.

Although the roadmap doesn’t suggest an immediate upgrade, the Ethereum Foundation described it as a cohesive strategy that ties current innovation to long-term resilience. Core teams will prototype components and assess trade-offs in ongoing working group discussions.

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Tether invests in Canadian gold company to strengthen its reserves

Tether has acquired nearly a third of a Canadian gold firm as part of its expanding dual investment strategy in Bitcoin and gold. The firm has bought 78.4 million shares in Elemental Altus for CA$121.5 million, securing 31.9% of the company.

The company, best known for minting USDT, now holds over 100,000 Bitcoin and nearly 80 tons of physical gold. It describes this as a ‘dual pillar strategy’ designed to safeguard value and improve financial resilience amid rising inflation and monetary uncertainty.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said Bitcoin and gold offer complementary protections, with the former being a decentralised hedge and a long-trusted store of value. The company has also issued XAUT, a stablecoin backed by gold, currently valued at over $833 million.

USDT continues to dominate global trading volumes and has gained popularity in emerging markets as a digital dollar alternative. Tether says holding gold and crypto strengthens its traditional and decentralised finance position.

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Trump highlights crypto plans at Coinbase summit

US President Donald Trump sent a prerecorded message to Coinbase’s State of Crypto Summit, reaffirming his commitment to advancing crypto regulation in the US.

The administration is working with Congress to pass the GENIUS Act supporting dollar-backed stablecoins and clear market frameworks.

Congress is preparing to vote on the GENIUS Act in the Senate, while the House is moving forward with the CLARITY Act. The latter seeks to clarify the regulatory roles of the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission concerning digital assets.

Both bills form part of a broader effort to create a clear legal environment for the crypto industry.

Some Democrats oppose Trump’s crypto ties, especially the family-backed stablecoin from World Liberty Financial. Despite tensions, Trump continues promoting his crypto agenda through conferences and videos.

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Crypto conferences face rising phishing risks

Crypto events have grown rapidly worldwide in recent years. Unfortunately, this expansion has led to an increase in scams targeting attendees, according to Kraken’s chief security officer, Nick Percoco.

Recent conferences have seen lax personal security, with exposed devices and careless sharing of sensitive information. These lapses make it easier for criminals to launch phishing campaigns and impersonation attacks.

Phishing remains the top threat at these events, exploiting typical conference activities such as QR code scanning and networking. Attackers distribute malicious links disguised as legitimate follow-ups, allowing them to gain access to wallets and sensitive data with minimal technical skill.

Use of public Wi-Fi, unverified QR codes, and openly discussing high-value trades in public areas further increase risks. Attendees are urged to use burner wallets and verify every QR code carefully.

The dangers have become very real, highlighted by violent crimes in France, where prominent crypto professionals were targeted in kidnappings and ransom demands. These incidents show that risks are no longer confined to the digital world.

Basic security mistakes such as leaving devices unlocked or oversharing personal information can have severe consequences. Experts call for a stronger security culture at events and beyond, including multi-factor authentication, cautious password management, and heightened situational awareness.

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National Bank of Ukraine could hold Bitcoin

Ukraine’s parliament has introduced a bill proposing to allow the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) to include Bitcoin as part of the country’s state reserves, alongside gold and foreign currencies. The bill 13356 gives the NBU full discretion to buy and manage cryptocurrencies without any obligation.

Supporters argue that incorporating digital assets into national reserves could enhance Ukraine’s macroeconomic stability and boost the digital economy.

Lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak said the flexible framework lets the NBU decide when, how, and how much cryptocurrency to acquire independently.

Several countries, including the US, El Salvador, Switzerland, and Brazil, are exploring or already hold cryptocurrencies in their reserves. Ukraine’s move aligns with this global trend and signals an openness to financial innovation, potentially improving its attractiveness to investors and fintech firms.

While cautious, the bill represents a step towards modernising Ukraine’s economic policy and integrating emerging financial technologies.

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Binance opens to Syrian users after sanctions ease

Binance has announced it will now allow Syrian residents to access its cryptocurrency services, following the recent suspension of US sanctions on Syria. The platform had previously barred Syrian users due to longstanding international restrictions.

With Syria no longer classified as a prohibited country, local users can now register and engage in spot and futures trading, staking, cross-border payments via Binance Pay, and educational tools in Arabic.

The exchange stated that it aims to contribute to Syria’s economic recovery and digital growth, in line with international compliance.

The shift follows the rise of Syria’s new leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who came to power in December 2024 after overthrowing Bashar al-Assad. In response, US President Donald Trump declared an end to sanctions in May 2025, offering Syria ‘a chance at greatness’.

Due to persistent inflation and currency instability, Syrians have increasingly turned to crypto. Despite sanctions, Syria has ranked among the top 10 countries for crypto-related search activity since 2021, highlighting the region’s demand for financial alternatives.

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Senate edges closer to GENIUS Act

The US Senate has taken a significant step towards regulating stablecoins, voting 68–30 to advance the GENIUS Act. The legislation requires stablecoins to be fully backed and mandates yearly audits for issuers valued at over $50 billion.

A final vote is expected on Monday unless the debate is concluded sooner.

Although the bill received bipartisan support, it has also triggered notable opposition. Leading Democrats, including Elizabeth Warren and Chuck Schumer, voted against it, citing unresolved amendments and ethical concerns.

Senator Warren accused lawmakers of facilitating corruption linked to Donald Trump’s expanding involvement in the crypto sector.

Trump’s growing ties to digital assets have added fresh controversy. His firm, World Liberty Financial, recently launched a US Treasury-backed stablecoin named USD1.

The Trump family has also introduced meme coins such as $TRUMP and $MELANIA, reportedly generating profits from transaction fees despite significant price volatility.

While the Senate progresses towards a final vote, the outcome in the House remains uncertain. Issues between the two chambers, especially regarding foreign issuers and state regulation, need resolution before a unified framework can be implemented.

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Bank of America prepares for dollar stablecoin

According to CEO Brian Moynihan, Bank of America is developing a dollar-pegged stablecoin. The bank collaborates with industry players but will only move forward once federal regulations are finalised.

Moynihan told investors that readiness is key, even though current demand for such an asset remains unclear.

The timing aligns with progress on the GENIUS Act, which aims to standardise stablecoin rules. The Senate voted to end debate on the bill, setting the stage for a final vote.

Proposed amendments would ensure stablecoins are backed one-to-one by secure assets and clarify the role of non-bank issuers.

Meanwhile, France’s Societe Generale-FORGE has launched a US dollar stablecoin called USD CoinVertible. The Ethereum and Solana-based token follows its earlier euro-backed version and meets the EU crypto rules.

The bank has partnered with BNY Mellon as the reserve custodian and will begin round-the-clock trading in early July.

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