Author: Deep Tide TechFlow
Unbeknownst to many, Donald Trump has become a key figure influencing the cryptocurrency market.
Yesterday, he proposed on social media to incorporate multiple “Made in America” altcoins into the strategic reserve, and the market responded with a bullish trend, with XRP, SOL, and ADA experiencing varying degrees of increase.
Today, Bitcoin fell from 94,000 back to 84,000, welcoming us to the “Presidential Painting Door” market.
From participating in Bitcoin conferences to proposing to ensure that the U.S. becomes the “capital of the crypto world,” and establishing a national crypto reserve by signing an executive order for a digital asset working group, Trump seems to demonstrate his firm resolve in the crypto industry.
However, at the same time, his launch of the $Trump coin has sparked controversy, with the market believing it could siphon off liquidity and undermine the value of other cryptocurrencies, leading some to question whether he merely aims to make a quick profit from the crypto market.
All of this is influenced by him, yet remains elusive—conflict, contradiction, and unconventional tactics.
If you cannot see through a person, perhaps you can find answers in his books.
You may not know that Trump is also a bestselling author. He has published 16 books to date, all of which have made it to the bestseller list. Among them, “The Art of the Deal” is his proudest work, which Trump claims is his second favorite book, second only to the Bible.
The book, co-authored with writer Tony Schwartz in 1987, is an autobiographical work in which Trump shares his successful experiences in business and how he achieves success through unique thinking and negotiation skills.
Thus, if you view him as a businessman, everything is for better deals and achieving business objectives.
Under this character and motivation, some seemingly contradictory actions become easier to understand.
For instance, a key concept reflected in the book is leverage. Trump writes in the book:
“Leverage: don’t make deals without it. Enhance.” Translated directly, it means leverage: don’t make deals without it. Enhance it.
If you look back at his various actions in economic and political arenas, you will find that most are aimed at using leverage to achieve his objectives.
Table of Contents
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All Conflicts Are Business
It’s Crypto, and It’s Leverage
11 Principles in “The Art of the Deal”
Conclusion
At the end of last year, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social:
This statement again showcases Trump’s typical style of using tariffs as a negotiation threat. Tariffs here have been seen by him as a form of leverage to force concessions from others.
By creating unbearable pressure on the other side, he compelled the EU to reconsider its stance in trade negotiations, a manifestation of his business mentality—every conflict can be transformed into part of business.
His recent actions regarding the Russia-Ukraine war also reflect this leverage thinking.
On February 19, 2025, he released a statement on X criticizing Ukrainian President Zelensky, stating that “Ukraine could have avoided war through negotiations,” suggesting that Ukraine should have reached an agreement with Russia earlier.
Although this statement was fact-checked as misleading—the war was triggered by Russia’s invasion on February 24, 2022—Trump’s stance reveals his intent: by controlling U.S. military aid to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, he attempts to force both sides to the negotiating table.
The U.S. is Ukraine’s largest aid provider, having pledged over $44 billion in military support for 2024.
Trump may use this aid as leverage, threatening to reduce or suspend support to coerce Ukraine into accepting terms more favorable to Russia. At the same time, he might entice Moscow by hinting at relaxing economic sanctions against Russia—such as lifting certain energy or financial restrictions.
This dual leverage strategy embodies the principle of “having something the other side needs” in “The Art of the Deal.” Through negotiation, he may hope to expedite peace, showcase his “deal-making ability,” and even derive economic benefits from it.
A few days ago (March 2, 2025), Zelensky had a heated argument with Trump in the White House in front of the U.S. media, further exposing the contradictions in this strategy. The White House statement indicated that Trump proposed a “mineral rights cooperation plan,” hoping that Ukraine would relinquish certain resources (such as lithium and rare earth minerals) in exchange for peace;
Zelensky angrily countered that this was a threat to Ukraine’s sovereignty. The contradiction lies in Trump seemingly hoping to seize more Ukrainian resources through peace talks, transforming the war into a business transaction.
This action may also demonstrate his tendency to simplify international conflicts into transactions—everything is aimed at achieving better “business objectives,” even if it may harm alliances or provoke international criticism.
In the world of cryptocurrency, Trump’s actions are similarly marked by 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 U.S. strategic reserve. The market immediately responded with a bullish trend, with XRP rising 33%, SOL increasing 22%, and ADA surging over 60%.
This policy leveraged government endorsement to directly boost the value of these cryptocurrencies, enhancing his influence in the market.
Furthermore, Trump’s prior launch of his own $Trump coin and the establishment of a strategic reserve are also seen as multiple embodiments of leverage strategy.
First, he may force other government departments—such as the Treasury or the Federal Reserve—to support his pro-crypto policies through the inclusion of specific altcoins. On January 23, 2025, he signed an executive order to create a digital asset working group, led by his appointed “White House AI and Crypto Czar” David Sacks. This move is seen as bypassing Congress to directly push his agenda.
All these initiatives reflect his attempt to pull the opposition into his orbit.
Second, this policy may use cryptocurrency as a bargaining chip in partisan and economic politics. He declared on X that he would “ensure the U.S. becomes the capital of the crypto world,” not only to attract support from the crypto community—a growing voter demographic—but also potentially to compete with other major powers in international competition, preventing rival countries from dominating the digital asset market.
Setting aside whether other countries truly intend to dominate the digital asset market, this justification or rhetoric is clearly a form of geopolitical leverage.
But do not forget, as president, he serves the country; yet privately, he has more family business interests.
For instance, the $TRUMP coin, which drains liquidity from the market, leading to a significant drop in the crypto market.
Some industry bigwigs have questioned whether the inclusion of newer coins like XRP, SOL, and ADA leans towards specific interests, even linking it to Trump family’s World Liberty Financial platform.
The launch of the $Trump coin has been criticized for siphoning off liquidity and undermining the value of other cryptocurrencies.
As a retail investor, you may feel deeply betrayed; yet all of this aligns with the principle of “maximizing options” in “The Art of the Deal”:
Through leverage, he is both a policy-maker and a market participant, attempting to gain maximum benefits in both the real world and the crypto world, even if this may upset some individuals.
From the negotiating strategy in the Russia-Ukraine war to the leverage operations in the cryptocurrency market, every step Trump takes seems to practice the creed of “no deals without leverage” from “The Art of the Deal.”
But the treasures within the book do not stop there.
Recently, Trump’s actions not only showcase his mindset as a businessman but also pique our curiosity: how has he systematized these ideas and repeatedly validated them over his decades-long business career?
Let us delve deeper to see how the core principles Trump summarizes in the book provide a blueprint for today’s conflicts and business.
Appendix: 11 Principles of Negotiation from Trump’s Book:
1. Think Big
Trump believes that most people hesitate to take bold risks out of fear of failure, which gives him a competitive edge. His focus is as precise as a laser, sometimes even bordering on obsession, as he boldly includes altcoins in the strategic reserve, attempting to reshape the market landscape.
2. Protect the downside and the upside will take care of itself
In the Russia-Ukraine negotiations, he may test the limits by threatening to reduce aid, ensuring that regardless of the outcome, U.S. interests remain protected.
3. Maximize the options
This flexibility is evident in his simultaneous launch of the $Trump coin and the push for a national reserve, pursuing multiple avenues to maximize the chances of success.
4. Know your market
Trump has stated that he chats with taxi drivers to understand the real estate market.
5. Use Your Leverage
6. Enhance Your Location
7. Get the Word Out
Clearly, Trump excels at amplifying his influence through social media, from announcing the crypto reserve to advocating for Russia-Ukraine negotiations; every step is accompanied by high-profile publicity to ensure that momentum overshadows controversy.
8. Fight Back
This was evident in the argument between Zelensky and him in the White House; in the face of opposition, he stands firm, insisting on advancing his “business plan”; while with Musk, it’s another story.
9. Deliver the Goods
He promises to make the U.S. the “crypto capital” in his crypto policies; despite ongoing controversy, he continues to push forward to maintain market confidence.
10. Contain the Costs
He seeks efficiency in business, which may also reflect in how he adjusts the minimum aid to maximize benefits in the Russia-Ukraine negotiations, maintaining cost-effectiveness throughout.
11. Have Fun
Whether manipulating the crypto market or engaging in international conflicts, Trump seems to enjoy the process, viewing each gamble as a business adventure worth savoring.
From the “Presidential Painting Door” in the crypto market to the negotiation gambit in the Russia-Ukraine war, Trump employs leverage to turn each conflict into a bargaining chip in the business arena.
Whether threatening the EU with tariffs, manipulating the Russia-Ukraine situation through aid and sanctions, or stirring the crypto world with the strategic reserve and $Trump coin, every step he takes follows the core logic of “no deals without leverage” from “The Art of the Deal.”
This business mentality allows him to navigate through contradictions and conflicts, yet it also leaves allies, markets, and even global situations often mired in uncertainty.
As revealed by the 11 principles in his book, thinking big, using leverage wisely, and enjoying the game—these are not only his negotiation blueprint but also a reflection of his character.
In a sense, this represents a unity of knowledge and action.
Trump’s art of negotiation will undoubtedly continue to stir waves throughout his term; may your positions on the ship not be overturned.
This article is reprinted with permission from Deep Tide TechFlow.
