Eric Trump's American Bitcoin venture is poised to make a splash in the cryptocurrency investment landscape with its public launch via a merger with Gryphon Digital Mining. This move signals a new chapter for the Trump family's involvement in the digital asset space and underscores the growing interest in Bitcoin mining and strategic reserve development.

Ambitious Goals and Strategic Partnerships

American Bitcoin, co-founded by Eric Trump, aims to become a category leader in the Bitcoin ecosystem. The company intends to achieve mining leadership through Hut 8's energy advantage, rapid execution, and proven team. The venture seeks to mine new Bitcoin at below-market costs and build a robust strategic Bitcoin reserve. Eric Trump has stated that their vision is to create the most investable Bitcoin accumulation platform in the market.

The company was launched in March 2025 as a majority-owned subsidiary of Hut 8, a prominent Bitcoin mining company. Hut 8 holds an 80% stake in American Bitcoin, with the remaining 20% owned by American Data Centers, a group of investors including the Trump brothers. As part of the merger with Gryphon Digital Mining, existing American Bitcoin shareholders, including Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Hut 8, will retain 98% ownership of the combined company. The remaining 2% will be owned by existing Gryphon stockholders.

Eric Trump's Role and Vision

Eric Trump serves as the Chief Strategy Officer of American Bitcoin, bringing his business acumen to the company's operations. He has expressed his belief in Bitcoin and cryptocurrency, stating that America should lead the way in this revolution. In an April call, Eric Trump emphasized that the winner of the Bitcoin race would be the one who can do it best, most efficiently, pragmatically, and in the cheapest energy environments. He also believes that the U.S. has the best energy policy, which is only getting better.

Merger Details and Public Listing

American Bitcoin will go public through an all-stock merger with Gryphon Digital Mining. The transaction is expected to close as early as the third quarter of 2025, subject to meeting specific closing conditions, including Gryphon stockholder approval. Following the completion of the transaction, the combined company will operate as American Bitcoin and is expected to be listed on the Nasdaq. The merged entity is expected to trade under the symbol "ABTC".

Broader Crypto Engagements of Eric Trump

Beyond American Bitcoin, Eric Trump has been actively involved in the cryptocurrency space. He holds personal investments in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and SUI. He was also appointed to the Strategic Board of Advisors at Metaplanet Inc., a Tokyo-based firm and Japan's largest corporate holder of Bitcoin. Furthermore, Eric Trump co-founded World Liberty Financial, a decentralized finance protocol, which launched a stablecoin named USD1 pegged to the U.S. dollar.

Market Impact and Scrutiny

The announcement of American Bitcoin going public has already had an impact on the market. Shares of Gryphon Digital Mining surged following the news, and Hut 8 also experienced gains. However, the Trump family's growing involvement in cryptocurrency has drawn scrutiny and raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Some critics worry that American Bitcoin could become a vehicle for investors seeking to curry favor with President Trump. Despite these concerns, the White House has maintained that there are no conflicts of interest.