Original author: TechFlow
Unknowingly, Trump has become a key figure in the crypto market.
Yesterday, he proposed on social media to include multiple Made in the USA altcoins in the strategic reserve, and the market responded with a positive line, with XRP/SOL/ADA all rising to varying degrees;
Today, Bitcoin fell back from 94,000 to 84,000. Welcome to the Presidential Painting Gate market.
From participating in the Bitcoin conference, to proposing to ensure that the United States becomes the capital of the crypto world, to establishing a national crypto reserve and signing an executive order on the digital asset task force, Trump seems to have demonstrated his firm determination to the crypto industry.
But at the same time, his launch of $Trump coin has sparked controversy, with the market believing that it may drain market liquidity and weaken the value of other currencies. Some even question whether he just wants to make a quick buck through the crypto market.
He controls all of this, but he is unpredictable - conflicting, contradictory, and unpredictable.
If you cant see clearly a person, you may get the answer from his book.
You may not know that Trump is also a best-selling author. He has published 16 books so far, all of which have been on the bestseller list. Among them, The Art of the Deal is his masterpiece. Trump said it is his second favorite book, second only to the Bible.
The book is an autobiographical book co-published with author Tony Schwartz in 1987. In the book, Trump shares his success experience in the business field and how he achieved success through his unique way of thinking and negotiation skills.
So if you think of him as a businessman, its all about getting a better deal and achieving business goals.
Given this kind of character and motivation, some seemingly contradictory behaviors become easier to understand.
For example, a key concept in the book is leverage. Trump wrote in the book:
Leverage: dont make deals without it. Enhance. Literally translated, leverage: dont make deals without it. Enhance it.
If you look back at his economic and political actions, youll find that most of them are using leverage to achieve his own goals.
All conflicts are business
At the end of last year, Trump posted on his social media site Truth Social:
“I told the EU that they must close their massive deficit with the US by massively purchasing our oil and gas. Otherwise, it’s tariffs across the board!!!”
This remark once again shows Trumps typical style of using tariffs as a negotiation threat. Here, he has regarded tariffs as a lever to force the other side to make concessions.
By creating unbearable pressure on the other side, he forced the EU to reconsider its position in trade negotiations. This is a reflection of his businessmans thinking - all conflicts can be transformed into part of business.
His recent actions in the Russia-Ukraine war also reflect this kind of leverage thinking.
On February 19, 2025, he released a statement on X criticizing Ukrainian President Zelensky, saying that Ukraine could have avoided the war through negotiations, implying that Ukraine should have reached an agreement with Russia earlier.
While this statement was verified as misleading - the war was triggered by Russias invasion on February 24, 2022 - Trumps position reveals his intentions: by controlling US military aid to Ukraine and sanctions on Russia, he is trying to force both sides to the negotiating table.
The United States is Ukraines largest aid donor, having pledged more than $44 billion in military support through 2024.
Trump could use this aid as leverage, threatening to reduce or suspend support to pressure Ukraine into accepting terms more favorable to Russia, while he could also try to woo Moscow by suggesting an easing of economic sanctions on Russia, such as lifting some energy or financial restrictions.
This double leverage strategy is the embodiment of having something the other party needs in The Art of the Deal. Through negotiation, he may hope to quickly make peace, demonstrate his dealing ability, or even gain economic benefits from it.
Two days ago (March 2, 2025), Zelensky and Trump had a big fight in the White House in front of the American media, which exposed the contradiction of this strategy. The White House statement showed that Trump proposed a mineral rights cooperation plan and hoped that Ukraine would give up some resources (such as lithium and rare earth minerals) in the peace talks in exchange for peace;
Zelensky angrily refuted that this was a threat to Ukraines sovereignty. The focus of the conflict is that Trump seems to want to grab more Ukrainian resources through peace talks and turn the war into a business.
This move may also demonstrate his character of simplifying international conflicts into transactions - everything is for the purpose of achieving better business purposes, even if it may damage relations with allies or cause international criticism.
It’s encryption, it’s leverage
In the world of cryptocurrency, Trump’s actions are also full of traces of leverage.
On March 2, he announced on X that Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), Solana (SOL) and Cardano (ADA) would be included in the US strategic reserve. The market immediately responded with a positive line. XRP rose 33%, SOL rose 22%, and ADA soared by more than 60%.
This policy uses government endorsement as leverage to directly push up the value of these currencies and enhance its influence in the market.
Furthermore, Trump’s previous moves to launch his own $Trump coin and establish a strategic reserve are also seen as multiple manifestations of leverage strategies.
First, he may force other departments within the government—such as the Treasury Department or the Federal Reserve—to support his pro-crypto policies by including specific altcoins. On January 23, 2025, he signed an executive order to create a digital asset task force, led by his appointed White House AI and Crypto Tsar David Sacks, a move that was seen as bypassing Congress and directly advancing his agenda.
All these measures reflect his attempt to pull the opposition into his own orbit.
Second, this policy could use crypto as a bargaining chip for partisan and economic politics. His declaration on X to ensure that the United States becomes the capital of the crypto world is not only to attract support from the crypto community - an increasingly important voter group - but also to counter other major powers in international competition and prevent competing countries from dominating the digital asset market.
Putting aside the question of whether other countries really want to dominate the digital asset market, this excuse or rhetoric is clearly a form of geopolitical leverage.
But dont forget that he is serving the country as president; but he also has more family businesses in private.
For example, the $TRUMP coin that drained market liquidity and caused a sharp drop in the crypto market.
Some industry leaders have questioned whether the inclusion of newer currencies such as XRP, SOL, and ADA favors specific interests or is even related to the Trump family’s World Liberty Financial platform.
The launch of $Trump coin has been accused of draining market liquidity and weakening the value of other currencies.
As a loser, you may be heartbroken by him; but all this is in line with the principle of maximizing options in The Art of Trading:
Through leverage, he is both a policy maker and a market participant, trying to maximize benefits both in the real world and in the crypto world, even if it may make some people unhappy.
11 principles from The Art of the Deal
From the peace negotiation strategy in the Russia-Ukraine war to the leveraged operations in the cryptocurrency market, every step Trump takes seems to be practicing the creed of no leverage, no deal in The Art of the Deal.
But the treasures in the book don’t end there.
These recent actions by Trump not only reveal his mindset as a businessman, but also make us wonder: How did he systematize these ideas and repeatedly verify them over his decades of business career?
Let’s dig deeper and see how the core principles Trump outlines in his book provide a blueprint for today’s conflicts and businesses.
Appendix: 11 transaction principles in Trump’s book:
1. Think Big
I like to think big. Thats always been my way. If you have to think big, think big.
Trump believes that most people are afraid of failure and dare not take a risk, and this fear gives him the opportunity to win. His focus is as precise as a laser, sometimes even close to paranoia, just as he boldly included altcoins in his crypto strategic reserves in an attempt to reshape the market.
2. Protect the downside and the upside will take care of itself
I dont like gambling. I always assume the worst. If you can handle the worst, good things will happen.
In peace talks over the Russian-Ukrainian war, he may test the bottom line by threatening to reduce aid to ensure that American interests are not harmed regardless of the outcome.
3. Maximize the options
“I never get hung up on one trade or one path. I always have multiple balls in the air because most trades fall through.”
This flexibility is evident in his strategy of launching $Trump coin and boosting the national reserve at the same time, working on multiple fronts in parallel to maximize the probability of success.
4. Know your market
“I don’t rely on complex numerical analysis or market research, I rely on my intuition and observation.”
Trump once said he would chat with taxi drivers to learn about the real estate market.
5. Use Your Leverage
In a deal, the worst thing to do is to appear eager, otherwise the other party will smell blood and youre done.
6. Enhance Your Location
“The secret to success in real estate isn’t necessarily the best location, but the best deal.”
7. Get the Word Out
“You have to let people know what you’re doing, otherwise no matter how good your work is, it’s useless.”
Obviously, Trump is good at amplifying his influence through social media. From announcing crypto reserves to advocating peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, every step he takes is accompanied by high-profile publicity to ensure that the momentum outweighs the controversy.
8. Fight Back
I am nice to people who are nice to me, but if someone treats me unfairly, I will fight back fiercely.
This was clearly revealed in Zelenskys quarrel with his White House counterpart. In the face of opposition, he did not give in and insisted on pushing forward his business plan; but when facing Musk, it was a different picture.
9. Deliver the Goods
“You can create excitement, you can hype it up, but if you don’t deliver, people will eventually see through it.”
In his crypto policy, he pledged to make the United States the crypto capital, and despite ongoing controversy, he is still working hard to maintain market confidence.
10. Be thrifty and control costs (Contain the Costs)
Spend what needs to be spent, but never a penny more. He pursues efficiency in business. This kind of thinking may also be reflected in how to use the smallest aid adjustment in exchange for the greatest benefit of the Russia-Ukraine peace talks. Careful calculation runs through the entire process.
11. Have Fun
Money is just a scorecard for me. The real fun is playing the game. Whether its manipulating the crypto market or intervening in international conflicts, Trump seems to enjoy it and regards every gamble as a business adventure worth enjoying.
Conclusion
From the Presidential Painting Gate in the crypto market to the peace talks in the Russia-Ukraine war, Trump has used leverage to turn every conflict into a bargaining chip in the business world.
Whether it is threatening the EU to impose tariffs, manipulating the situation in Russia and Ukraine through aid and sanctions, or using strategic reserves and $Trump coins to stir up the crypto world, every step he takes follows the core logic of no leverage, no trading in The Art of the Deal.
This kind of businessmans mindset allows him to navigate contradictions and conflicts with ease, but it also often causes uncertainty among allies, markets and even the global situation.
As the 11 principles in his book reveal, broaden your vision, use your chips well, and enjoy the game - these are not only his trading blueprint, but also a microcosm of his character.
To some extent, this is also a kind of unity of knowledge and action.
Trump’s art of deal-making will inevitably continue to stir up waves during his term in office. I hope your positions on the ship will not be overturned.
