Donald Trump Jr. Compares Media Treatment to Crypto Debanking at Token2049
During Token2049, Singapore's biggest cryptocurrency event, Donald Trump Jr. made waves by drawing a stark parallel between the way banks...

Quick overview
- During Token2049, Donald Trump Jr. criticized mainstream media's treatment of his family, paralleling it with banks distancing themselves from cryptocurrency projects.
- He emphasized that alternative media platforms are gaining credibility as traditional media loses trust, allowing for more genuine conversations.
- Trump Jr. revealed that his family's venture into cryptocurrency was driven by necessity after facing 'debanking' from major banks following his father's presidency.
- His comments sparked discussions on censorship, free speech, and the importance of independent voices in both media and finance.
During Token2049, Singapore’s biggest cryptocurrency event, Donald Trump Jr. made waves by drawing a stark parallel between the way banks have severed their links with cryptocurrency projects and the way the mainstream media has handled his family. Trump Jr. speaking to a crowded audience called his experience with traditional media “a disaster” and cited it as a major factor in the founding of his family’s cryptocurrency venture, World Liberty Financial.
Donald Trump Jr. Calls Media Treatment a 'Disaster', Likens Deplatforming to Crypto Debanking
► https://t.co/j7YasNl0zS https://t.co/j7YasNl0zS— Decrypt (@DecryptMedia) October 3, 2025
From Media Blackouts to Crypto Alternatives
Trump Jr. said that alternative platforms have gained traction and established media sources have lost their credibility. He stated “The reason we’re beginning to get a fair shake is that the media has so thoroughly and frequently discredited themselves that finance, like media, is moving to alternative forms.”
He emphasized how independent media, podcasts, and in-depth interviews allow for “real” conversations, which he feels are avoided by mainstream media. He believes that by using these methods people may communicate with audiences directly and get beyond corporate agendas.
Crypto as More Than Just an Investment: It’s a Need
Trump Jr. clarified that his family’s participation in cryptocurrency was motivated by survival as much as opportunity. He disclosed that “some of the biggest banks in the world” closed their accounts following his father’s first tenure as president. He claimed that this “debanking” forced the Trumps to go to cryptocurrency.
He claimed that the reason he entered the cryptocurrency space was because he was debanked. He connected this experience to social media deplatforming which involves voices being muted or eliminated. He saw the same issue in the media and in finance: gatekeepers determining who is allowed to participate.
Industry Voices Back the Message
Discussions throughout the conference were triggered by his remarks. Many members of the crypto community agreed with his criticism of established organizations. Independent coverage is more valuable because mainstream media frequently ignores key crypto information said Tory Green co-founder of the decentralized GPU platform io.net.
Nic Puckrin the creator of Coin Bureau also had some thoughts. He acknowledged that Trump Jr.’s phrasing was “a bit of a spin,” but he felt that everyone should be able to express their thoughts without fear of retaliation. He still referred to deplatforming as “wrong.”
According to MEXC Chief Strategy Officer Cecilia Hsueh alternative media frequently knows the rapidly evolving “degen culture” of cryptocurrency better than traditional media. She went on to say that although the general public still considers cryptocurrency to be speculative, the increasing popularity of Bitcoin is altering that opinion.
A Financial and Political Statement
The comments made by Trump Jr. are part of a larger trend: his family’s increasing ownership of digital assets. Memes and projects associated with Trump have drawn attention and controversy outside of World Liberty Financial. Additionally the conversation touched on more general issues of censorship, free speech and the influence of institutions on public opinion.
His lecture touched on issues of control, independence and the right to engage in international discussions without being excluded and for many attendees it went beyond cryptocurrency.
Final Words:
Trump Jr.’s remarks highlight a view that many bitcoin supporters hold: funds and speech ought to be accessible unrestricted by censorship and not controlled by a select group of influential individuals. Even if you disagree with him his image of cryptocurrency as a remedy for “debanking” and “deplatforming” resonated with a sector that places a high priority on freedom.
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