“No President can use their office to profit from corrupt crypto schemes,” Oregon Sen. Merkley responds after report raises questions over Trump’s crypto ventures

Oregon – U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley is renewing his push for legislation aimed at preventing presidents from using their office to benefit from cryptocurrency ventures, saying recent developments have shown the need for stronger ethics protections.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Merkley said his End Crypto Corruption Act was created to prevent any president from profiting from what he described as corrupt crypto schemes.

“I wrote the End Crypto Corruption Act to make sure NO President can use their office to profit from corrupt crypto schemes,” Merkley wrote. “Each passing day makes it clearer and clearer why we need to get this bill passed.”

Merkley’s comments came after a New York Times report examined President Donald Trump’s cryptocurrency-related ventures and raised questions from critics about potential conflicts of interest involving digital assets. The report focused on Trump’s meme coin and the cryptocurrency platform World Liberty Financial, which has been linked to members of the Trump family.

According to The New York Times, Trump’s involvement in cryptocurrency has drawn scrutiny from ethics experts and lawmakers who argue that elected officials should not be able to personally benefit from financial products connected to their public role. Supporters of Trump’s crypto ventures have defended them as legitimate business activities.

The End Crypto Corruption Act, introduced by Merkley and other Democratic lawmakers, seeks to establish restrictions on presidents, vice presidents, members of Congress, and senior federal officials participating in certain cryptocurrency-related financial activities while in office.

Merkley has argued that stronger safeguards are needed as cryptocurrency becomes more integrated into the financial system and political fundraising landscape. He has said government officials should not be able to use their positions to create opportunities for personal financial gain.

The debate comes as lawmakers continue to examine the relationship between digital assets and government ethics. Critics of cryptocurrency-related political activity have raised concerns about transparency, foreign influence, and the possibility that individuals or organizations could use financial transactions to gain access to elected officials.

Supporters of clearer cryptocurrency regulations say Congress needs to establish rules before digital assets become more deeply connected to politics and government decision-making.

The White House and Trump allies have pushed back against accusations of corruption related to cryptocurrency ventures, arguing that critics are politically motivated and that the administration has supported broader efforts to develop the digital asset industry in the United States.

Photo Courtesy – Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) via X / PrtScr Video (https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/2028505632123326484)

Merkley said he intends to continue advocating for the End Crypto Corruption Act, arguing that the legislation is necessary to ensure future presidents and federal officials cannot use their positions for personal financial benefit.

The bill would need approval from both chambers of Congress before it could become law. As lawmakers continue debating cryptocurrency regulation and government ethics, Merkley has urged colleagues to move forward with additional restrictions on political conflicts of interest involving digital assets.