Media group controlled by the family of US President Donald Trump is expanding further into the crypto sector. Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the company behind the social platform Truth Social, announced plans to issue and distribute a new cryptocurrency token to its shareholders. The market reacted immediately, with TMTG shares rising sharply after the announcement.

Token as a shareholder reward

TMTG unveiled the plan on New Year’s Eve, stating that investors will receive one token for each share they hold. According to the company, the token will be distributed through a partnership with a global crypto exchange and will be issued on the Cronos Blockchain.

The company did not specify an exact release date. Chief executive Devin Nunes said shareholders should receive the tokens “in the near future.” He described the issuance as a “first-of-its-kind token” designed to reward shareholders and promote fair and transparent markets.

The token will be non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash, according to the company’s statement.

Shares jump despite longer-term decline

Shares of TMTG, listed on the Nasdaq, jumped more than 9 percent in New York trading following the announcement. The gains later eased, with shares declining slightly during Friday’s session. Over the past six months, the stock has fallen and remains roughly 60 percent lower than a year ago.

The new token adds to the expanding crypto ventures linked to Trump and his family, including memecoins and a stablecoin. These activities have generated more than $1 billion, according to a Financial Times analysis earlier this year, supported in part by crypto-friendly policies.

Founded in 2021, TMTG initially served as the holding company for Truth Social. Since then, it has accumulated approximately $2 billion in Bitcoin as part of its broader push into the crypto sector.

In December 2025, the company also entered the artificial intelligence space through a merger with TAE Technologies, a Google-backed fusion energy firm, in a deal valued at $6 billion. The move reflects a broader bet on nuclear energy as a future power source for AI development.

Sources:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2ky3mn7j5o

https://www.ft.com/content/30c65e6a-4430-46c1-8aed-fbae7e76d0af

https://www.reuters.com/business/trump-media-distribute-new-digital-token-shareholders-2025-12-31/

https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-media-group-crypto-djt-shareholders-bitcoin-btc-abtc-stocks-2026-1