Trump's Crypto Move: A Risky Bet on a Troubled Exchange

Donald Trump's latest venture into the crypto world has raised eyebrows. His stablecoin, USD1, started trading on KuCoin, an exchange that's had its fair share of troubles. KuCoin was recently banned in the U. S. after admitting to breaking anti-money laundering rules. They had to pay a hefty fine of almost $300 million and agreed to stay out of the U. S. market for at least two years. The exchange's co-founders also stepped down from their management roles as part of the deal. This isn't the first time Trump has been involved in controversial business deals. He's the main figure behind World Liberty Financial, a decentralized finance platform launched last September. His three sons are also involved in the venture. The Trump family controls about 60% of the company through an LLC. The stablecoin, USD1, is designed to match the value of the U. S. dollar. It's a type of cryptocurrency that's pegged to a traditional asset. Stablecoins like USD1 are used for trading, borrowing, and lending without the need for banks. The companies behind these coins usually make money from trading fees and interest on deposits. KuCoin isn't the only exchange where USD1 is traded. It's also listed on HTX and MEXC, both of which don't serve U. S. customers due to regulatory issues. This move by Trump has sparked criticism. U. S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon pointed out that KuCoin had been lax in implementing anti-money laundering policies. As a result, the exchange was used for billions of dollars' worth of suspicious transactions. This includes proceeds from darknet markets and various fraud schemes. It's unclear what the deal between World Liberty Financial and KuCoin entails. Typically, both parties earn trading fees, and some exchanges also charge listing fees and make additional profits from market making. Trump's involvement in the crypto world isn't new. He's been a vocal supporter of digital assets and has pledged to make the U. S. the "crypto capital of the world. " This aligns with his expanding investments in the sector. However, his past statements on crypto have been contradictory. In 2021, he called for heavy regulation of crypto, telling Fox Business, "I don't think we should have all of the bitcoins of the world out there. " This stance is at odds with his current crypto ventures. The ethics of Trump's business dealings have also been questioned. An ethics white paper released by the Trump Organization noted that the Constitution doesn't bar a president from owning or managing a private business. However, to avoid any appearance of conflict, the company hired an outside ethics adviser. Trump also pledged to keep his assets in a trust and not manage the company directly. This adviser was later fired at Trump's instruction. The crypto world is watching Trump's moves closely. Senate Democrats recently introduced the End Crypto Corruption Act, which would bar presidents and other officials from issuing or endorsing crypto assets. This move comes as Trump's crypto ventures continue to gain traction. His stablecoin, USD1, has a market cap of $2. 14 billion, according to Coinbase, a crypto trading platform. As Trump's crypto ventures continue to evolve, so too will the scrutiny and criticism surrounding them.