The $TRUMP meme coin, launched by the Trump family on January 17, 2025, just before Donald Trump’s inauguration, has been making waves in the crypto market. Here’s the latest news and trends surrounding this cryptocurrency:
Breaking News
Trump Hosts Exclusive Dinner for Top Holders: President Donald Trump announced a private dinner for the top 220 $TRUMP meme coin holders, scheduled for May 22, 2025, at Trump National Golf Club in Washington, D.C. The top 25 investors will also receive a White House tour. This announcement, made on April 23, led to a significant spike in $TRUMP coin buying.
Price Surge After Announcement: Following the dinner offer, the $TRUMP meme coin surged by as much as 70%, reaching $14.32 on April 23, up from a recent low. However, this price is still down 88% from its peak of $75.35 on January 19. Trading volume soared to over $295 million in 24 hours, outpacing other cryptocurrencies like Sui, which rose 23%.
Registration Details: To attend the dinner, holders must register via the $TRUMP coin’s official website and provide identifying information. The leaderboard of top holders will determine attendees, based on their average $TRUMP balance from April 23 to May 12.
Market Context and Sentiment
Historical Performance: The $TRUMP meme coin debuted with a market cap of nearly $15 billion but has since plummeted to $2.63 billion. Despite the recent surge, it remains volatile, with its value heavily influenced by social media hype and Trump’s involvement.
Token Unlock Concerns: Earlier this month, on April 18, 40 million $TRUMP tokens (20% of the circulating supply, worth $320–$330 million) were unlocked, raising fears of a price dump. However, the coin has shown resilience, with the recent dinner announcement driving renewed interest.
Trump Family’s Stake: The Trump Organization, through affiliates like CIC Digital LLC and Fight Fight Fight LLC, owns 80% of the $TRUMP tokens, which are subject to a 36-month unlock schedule. This has raised concerns about potential market manipulation, as the family has already earned $100 million in fees while buyers have lost over $2 billion since the coin’s peak.
Broader Trends and Developments
Trump’s Crypto Push: The Trump family has heavily invested in the crypto space, including $TRUMP and $Melania meme coins, a stablecoin via World Liberty Financial, Bitcoin mining through American Bitcoin, and NFTs. Their crypto empire is nearing $1 billion in paper value, despite market volatility.
Crypto Video Game: The Trump team is reportedly developing a Monopoly-style video game that integrates cryptocurrency, combining Trump’s real estate background with his new crypto ventures. This has sparked mixed reactions, with some seeing it as a scam following the $TRUMP coin’s earlier pump-and-dump allegations.
Regulatory Concerns: Critics have slammed Trump’s deregulation of the crypto industry, noting that the SEC has dropped enforcement actions against crypto firms tied to Trump donors. This has fueled concerns about conflicts of interest, especially as the Trump family expands its crypto footprint.
Critical Perspective
While Trump’s dinner offer has sparked a price surge, the $TRUMP coin’s fundamentals remain shaky. Meme coins like $TRUMP lack intrinsic value and are driven by hype, making them highly speculative. The Trump family’s 80% ownership and history of profiting while retail investors suffer suggest a potential conflict of interest. Investors should approach with caution, as the coin’s long-term viability is uncertain despite short-term gains.
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency investments are highly volatile. Always do your own research and never invest more than you can afford to lose.