Trump Media Files for Truth Social Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Cronos ETFs in Partnership With Crypto.com

Trump Media and Technology Group, the parent company of Truth Social, filed paperwork with the SEC on Friday to launch two new cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds. The Truth Social Bitcoin and Ether ETF would offer combined exposure to the two largest digital assets with a 60-40 split favoring Bitcoin, while the Truth Social Cronos Yield Maximizer ETF would invest in and stake Cronos (CRO) tokens to generate yield.

The filings, submitted in partnership with Crypto.com, represent the latest expansion of Trump Media’s “America First” investment strategy into digital assets and could bring crypto ETFs with staking rewards to mainstream investors if approved.

Truth Social Expands Crypto Ambitions With Dual ETF Filings

If you’ve been waiting for the moment when American politics, branded ETFs, and cryptocurrency staking rewards all converge into a single financial product, that moment has arrived.

On Friday, February 13, 2026—appropriately enough, the day before Valentine’s Day—Trump Media and Technology Group filed documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to launch two new crypto-focused exchange-traded funds under its Truth Social Funds brand. The move signals that the company, best known for its social media platform, is doubling down on its bet that “America First” branding can sell crypto exposure to mainstream investors.

The filings come through Yorkville America Equities, the investment adviser behind Truth Social’s existing lineup of patriotically-themed ETFs. If approved, the funds would launch in partnership with Crypto.com, which would serve as digital asset custodian, liquidity provider, and staking services provider.

“This is a significant next step for the politically branded investment firm,” Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas noted, adding that the previously filed Truth Social crypto ETFs could go live sometime in the next few months.

Breaking Down the Two New Truth Social Crypto Funds

The Truth Social Bitcoin and Ether ETF: A 60-40 Split

The Truth Social Bitcoin and Ether ETF is designed to do exactly what its name suggests: offer investors exposure to the world’s two largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization in a single regulated product. According to the filing, the fund would allocate approximately 60% of its assets to Bitcoin and 40% to Ethereum.

This isn’t simply a passive holding vehicle. The fund intends to generate staking rewards from its Ethereum position and pass those returns through to ETF holders. Ethereum operates on a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, which means holders can “stake” their coins to help secure the network and earn additional ETH as a reward. By incorporating staking, the Truth Social Bitcoin and Ether ETF could offer yield on top of price appreciation—something that traditional spot Bitcoin ETFs can’t provide since Bitcoin doesn’t offer staking.

The fund structure allows investors to gain diversified exposure to the two dominant crypto assets without managing private keys, dealing with exchange accounts, or navigating the technical complexities of staking themselves. For Truth Social’s target audience of mainstream, patriotic investors, that convenience factor matters.

The Truth Social Cronos Yield Maximizer ETF: Staking Takes Center Stage

The second filing is arguably the more interesting of the two. The Truth Social Cronos Yield Maximizer ETF would focus exclusively on Cronos (CRO), the native token of the Crypto.com-linked Cronos blockchain. But this isn’t just another single-asset crypto ETF—it’s designed to maximize yield through staking.

What is Cronos (CRO)? Cronos is the native token of the Cronos blockchain, an Ethereum-compatible Layer 1 network built on Cosmos SDK technology. It serves as the primary utility token for the Crypto.com ecosystem, powering transactions, staking, and governance. Users can stake CRO to secure the network and earn rewards, similar to Ethereum staking.

The Yield Maximizer ETF would invest in CRO tokens and then stake them through Crypto.com’s infrastructure. This means the fund would earn staking rewards on top of any price appreciation in CRO. The filing mentions both native staking—locking tokens directly on the blockchain—and liquid staking, which provides a tokenized representation of staked assets that can still be traded.

This staking feature positions the Cronos fund as a yield-generating product in a space still dominated by passive spot ETFs. For income-focused investors, that’s a meaningful differentiator.

The Crypto.com Partnership: Custody, Staking, and Distribution

Neither of these ETFs would be possible without a deep partnership with Crypto.com, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges. The filings outline a comprehensive relationship:

Crypto.com would act as digital asset custodian, holding the actual Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Cronos tokens on behalf of the funds. This is critical for regulatory compliance and investor protection—investors in the ETFs won’t hold crypto directly, but they need assurance that the underlying assets exist and are securely stored.

The exchange would also provide liquidity services, ensuring the funds can efficiently buy and sell assets to meet creation and redemption demands. For the Cronos ETF specifically, Crypto.com would handle the staking operations, managing the technical process of locking tokens and claiming rewards.

Foris Capital US LLC, an SEC-registered broker-dealer affiliated with Crypto.com, would distribute the funds. This gives Truth Social access to Crypto.com’s established distribution network while keeping everything within regulated channels.

“We are pleased to be selected to provide digital asset custody, liquidity, and staking services for these new Truth Social Funds ETFs,” said Kris Marszalek, co-founder and CEO of Crypto.com, in a statement. “These two digital asset ETFs have a strong value proposition that Crypto.com is supportive of and look forward to providing traders access to.”

What’s Different About These ETF Filings?

To understand why these filings matter, you need to understand what makes them different from the dozens of crypto ETF applications the SEC has processed over the past few years.

First, there’s the branding angle. Truth Social Funds markets itself explicitly as “America First” investments. Its existing ETF lineup includes a red-state-focused real estate fund, an American security and defense fund, and an “American Icons” ETF that holds shares of Walmart, McDonald’s, and Home Depot. These aren’t neutral financial products—they’re political statements wrapped in ETF form.

Second, there’s the staking component. While spot Bitcoin ETFs have become commonplace since the SEC approved them in early 2024, ETFs that incorporate staking rewards are still relatively novel. The Cronos Yield Maximizer ETF, in particular, represents a bet that investors want yield-generation built into their ETF structure rather than having to seek it elsewhere.

Third, there’s the Cronos focus itself. Most crypto ETFs target Bitcoin, Ethereum, or broad baskets of large-cap altcoins. A single-asset ETF dedicated to CRO—a token with a roughly $2.5 billion market cap as of February 2026—is a more targeted bet. It suggests Truth Social and Crypto.com believe there’s dedicated demand for Cronos exposure among their combined user bases.

The “America First” Investment Strategy: Beyond Crypto

Truth Social’s crypto ETF filings don’t exist in a vacuum. They’re part of a broader investment push by Trump Media to create a full suite of financial products that appeal to patriotic, conservative investors.

The company’s existing ETF lineup includes:

The Truth Social Red State Real Estate ETF, which invests in real estate investment trusts and property companies concentrated in Republican-leaning states.

The Truth Social American Security and Defense Fund, focusing on defense contractors, cybersecurity firms, and homeland security companies.

The Truth Social American Icons ETF, holding shares of quintessentially American brands like Walmart, McDonald’s, Home Depot, and similar consumer stalwarts.

These funds share a common philosophy: invest in America, invest in companies that embody American values, and avoid “woke” corporations that prioritize environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals over shareholder returns.

The crypto ETFs extend this philosophy into digital assets. By partnering with Crypto.com and focusing on Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Cronos, Truth Social is positioning cryptocurrency as compatible with its “America First” worldview—a notable shift from the skepticism some conservative circles once expressed toward digital currencies.

Trump’s Complex Relationship With Crypto

President Donald Trump’s relationship with cryptocurrency has evolved significantly over the years. During his first term, he tweeted that he was “not a fan” of Bitcoin, calling it “highly volatile and based on thin air.” His administration took a generally hands-off approach to crypto regulation, but Trump personally remained skeptical.

By 2026, that skepticism appears to have faded. Trump is a primary owner of Trump Media & Technology Group, which owns Truth Social, which now owns Truth Social Funds, which is filing for crypto ETFs. The business interests are clear: if crypto ETFs succeed, Trump Media succeeds, and Trump’s net worth grows.

This business relationship has created political complications. According to the second source, Trump’s personal ties to the crypto sector are “currently among the primary sticking points for advancing the U.S. Senate’s Digital Asset Market Clarity Act that would govern the oversight of U.S. crypto markets.” Lawmakers are reportedly concerned about the appearance of writing legislation that could directly benefit the President’s business interests.

For now, those political concerns haven’t stopped the ETF filings from moving forward. The SEC will evaluate them on their merits—or at least, that’s how the process is supposed to work.

What Is Cronos (CRO)? Understanding the Token Behind the Yield Maximizer ETF

Since the Cronos Yield Maximizer ETF is the more novel of the two filings, it’s worth understanding exactly what CRO is and why an ETF dedicated to it might make sense.

Cronos (CRO) started life as the Crypto.com Coin, the native token of the Crypto.com exchange. In 2021, Crypto.com launched the Cronos blockchain, a separate Ethereum-compatible network built on Cosmos SDK technology, and CRO became the native token of that blockchain.

The token serves several functions:

• Transaction fees on the Cronos blockchain are paid in CRO
• Validators stake CRO to secure the network and process transactions
• Token holders can delegate their CRO to validators and earn staking rewards
• CRO is used for governance, allowing holders to vote on network upgrades
• Within the Crypto.com ecosystem, CRO provides trading fee discounts and other benefits

The Cronos blockchain itself has grown significantly since its launch. It’s designed to enable DeFi applications, NFT projects, and gaming while maintaining compatibility with Ethereum tools and infrastructure. Developers can port Ethereum-based dApps to Cronos with minimal modification, making it an attractive alternative to high-fee Ethereum mainnet.

For the Yield Maximizer ETF, the key feature is staking. By staking its CRO holdings, the fund can generate ongoing yield that gets passed through to ETF holders. In a low-yield environment, that income stream could attract investors who want crypto exposure without sacrificing current income.

Market Reaction and DJT Stock Performance

Wall Street’s reaction to the news was muted but positive. Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group (ticker: DJT) closed up approximately 0.9% on Friday at $10.98.

That modest gain, however, comes against a backdrop of significant longer-term weakness. DJT shares have fallen nearly 39% over the past six months. The stock, which went public through a SPAC merger in 2024, has been volatile, reflecting both the challenges of Truth Social’s social media business and broader market skepticism toward meme-adjacent stocks.

The crypto ETF filings could provide a catalyst if approved. ETF launches typically generate fee revenue for sponsors, and successful funds can become significant profit centers over time. If the Truth Social Bitcoin and Ether ETF and Cronos Yield Maximizer ETF attract meaningful assets, they could contribute positively to Trump Media’s bottom line.

That’s a big “if,” of course. The ETF market is crowded, and new funds need distribution, marketing, and compelling value propositions to stand out. Truth Social’s political branding might help with the first two, but the funds will still need to perform.

The Regulatory Path Forward

Both ETFs remain subject to SEC approval, and that approval is far from guaranteed. While the SEC under the current administration has been more accommodating of crypto products than during the Gensler era, it still scrutinizes new filings carefully.

The staking component adds complexity. The SEC has previously signaled concerns about whether staking services offered by intermediaries constitute investment contracts subject to securities laws. By building staking directly into the ETF structure, Truth Social and Crypto.com are testing whether that approach passes regulatory muster.

The Cronos ETF faces additional questions. CRO itself has an unclear regulatory status. While Crypto.com has operated largely within regulatory guidelines, the token hasn’t received the kind of explicit non-security determinations that Bitcoin and Ethereum have benefited from. The SEC could question whether CRO is an appropriate asset for a registered ETF.

Then there’s the political dimension. The President’s involvement creates optics that the SEC will need to navigate carefully. Approving the funds could be seen as favoring Trump’s business interests; denying them could be seen as politically motivated opposition. The SEC’s job is to evaluate the filings based on investor protection and market integrity, but in Washington, perception matters.

What These ETFs Mean for Mainstream Investors

If approved, the Truth Social crypto ETFs would offer mainstream investors something they can’t easily get elsewhere: branded, regulated exposure to crypto assets with staking yield built in.

For the Bitcoin and Ether ETF, the value proposition is simplicity. Rather than buying two separate ETFs and managing the allocation themselves, investors can get a professionally managed 60-40 split in a single ticker. The staking yield on the Ethereum portion provides a modest income stream that pure Bitcoin ETFs can’t match.

For the Cronos ETF, the value proposition is more specific. Investors who believe in the Crypto.com ecosystem and want exposure to CRO can get it in a regulated ETF wrapper, with staking rewards handled automatically. That’s a convenience play for investors who like Cronos but don’t want to deal with exchanges, wallets, and staking interfaces.

Both funds would be distributed through Crypto.com’s affiliate Foris Capital US LLC, giving them access to the exchange’s substantial user base. Crypto.com claims millions of users worldwide, many of whom might appreciate the simplicity of ETF exposure.

The Bottom Line: Politics, Profit, and the Future of Crypto ETFs

Truth Social’s dual ETF filings represent another step in the mainstreaming of cryptocurrency as an asset class. When a company built around a former president’s brand files for crypto ETFs with a major exchange partner, it signals that digital assets have moved from the fringes to the center of American finance.

The political branding adds a layer of complexity. Truth Social isn’t trying to be neutral—it’s explicitly targeting investors who want “America First” products. Whether that positioning resonates with crypto investors, who tend to come from diverse political backgrounds, remains to be seen.

What’s clear is that the ETF landscape is evolving. Spot Bitcoin ETFs were just the beginning. Now we’re seeing combined funds, staking-integrated products, and single-asset ETFs for smaller-cap tokens like CRO. If the SEC approves these filings, it could open the door for even more innovation in the space.

For Trump Media, the ETFs represent a potential new revenue stream and a way to deepen engagement with its audience. For Crypto.com, they’re a chance to expand beyond exchange services into asset management. For investors, they’re another option in a rapidly expanding menu of ways to gain crypto exposure.

Now we wait for the SEC’s decision. If history is any guide, that could take months. But with Bloomberg’s Balchunas suggesting the previously filed Truth Social crypto ETFs could launch “in the next few months,” the waiting period might be shorter than usual.

Either way, Valentine’s Day 2026 brought crypto investors something to love: two more ETF filings to watch.