Dominari Holdings, a finance company associated with former U.S. President Donald Trump’s sons, has entered into a joint venture with a Bitcoin-based blockchain initiative backed by Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao. The collaboration aims to develop new platforms for digital assets and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), blending Trump-linked financial interests with one of the cryptocurrency industry’s most influential figures.
Dominari Expands into Bitcoin Layer Projects
According to a company statement issued on Friday, Dominari Securities, the investment banking division of Dominari Holdings, is working directly with Hemi, a blockchain project built atop Bitcoin’s infrastructure. The partnership seeks to increase the practical use and market presence of the Hemi token while driving institutional engagement within Bitcoin’s emerging ecosystem.
Dominari’s participation extends across multiple layers of the initiative. American Ventures, a firm in which Dominari holds a majority stake, has also made a strategic investment in Hemi, although financial details were not disclosed. The move demonstrates Dominari’s growing ambition to position itself as a key participant in blockchain-based finance and digital asset markets.
Hemi’s Growing Institutional Appeal
Hemi recently secured $15 million in fresh funding from investors including YZi Labs, Republic Digital, and Crypto.com. The project, co-founded by veteran crypto investor Matthew Roszak—a long-time supporter and close associate of CZ Zhao—is positioning itself as an institutional-grade Bitcoin layer solution. By combining blockchain scalability with regulated financial structures, Hemi aims to build a bridge between traditional finance and decentralized technology.
Dominari’s involvement adds a politically connected dimension to Hemi’s expansion. Headquartered in Trump Tower, the firm has long maintained close ties to figures within Donald Trump’s business and political network. Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump serve as advisers to Dominari Holdings, reinforcing its alignment with ventures associated with the Trump family.
Earlier in 2025, Dominari played a significant role in restructuring SRM Entertainment, a struggling toy manufacturer, into a newly formed entity known as Tron Inc. The rebranded company announced plans to accumulate TRX, the native token of Justin Sun’s Tron blockchain. Sun himself has been an active investor in cryptocurrency projects linked to Trump-affiliated ventures, further intertwining the two spheres of influence.
CZ Zhao’s Return to the Crypto Scene
Changpeng Zhao, who stepped down from his role as Binance CEO following a $4.3 billion settlement with U.S. regulators, served a four-month prison sentence in 2024 and has since applied for a presidential pardon. Despite the controversy, his continued influence within the blockchain sector remains significant. Hemi, one of the projects backed by his post-Binance network, is seen as a vehicle to expand Bitcoin’s functionality beyond its traditional role as a store of value.
Building Regulated Access to Bitcoin-Based Assets
Through this partnership, Dominari appears to be extending its reach beyond Trump-aligned ventures into the broader crypto investment landscape. The company’s strategy now involves channeling institutional resources and capital into Bitcoin’s foundational layer, supporting projects that can facilitate regulated exposure to digital assets.
Industry observers suggest that the collaboration could pave the way for the development of crypto ETFs and other blockchain-based investment vehicles tied directly to Bitcoin infrastructure. The combination of Dominari’s institutional network and Hemi’s technological framework is expected to accelerate the creation of compliant pathways for traditional investors seeking blockchain-based opportunities.
The alliance between Dominari and CZ Zhao’s network underscores a growing intersection of political influence, traditional finance, and decentralized technology. By merging Trump-connected capital with a Bitcoin-native blockchain solution, the joint venture reflects the next stage of institutional integration into the crypto ecosystem—where financial power, political ties, and blockchain innovation increasingly converge.