Trump’s private dinner brought together top TRUMP memecoin holders, including high-profile crypto figures.
The event raised concerns about political influence and foreign involvement amid ongoing cryptocurrency regulation debates.
Several attendees remained anonymous, while protests outside criticized the event.
Former President Donald Trump hosted an exclusive dinner for the top holders of his $TRUMP memecoin at his Virginia golf club. The event gathered prominent figures from the cryptocurrency world, including CEOs, investors, and sports personalities. Over 220 token holders attended, with the top 25 granted VIP status, receiving special access and an unofficial White House tour the following day.
High-Profile Attendees from Crypto and Sports
Among the invitees was Justin Sun, the Chinese crypto billionaire and founder of Tron, who was the largest $TRUMP token holder. Sun faces a lawsuit from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for alleged securities violations. Despite this, Sun remains a significant investor in a crypto venture connected to Trump’s World Liberty Financial. At the dinner, he received a special watch in recognition of his status.
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Kain Warwick, founder of the crypto exchange iFinex, attended after purchasing enough tokens to place him among the top investors. Warwick expressed interest in discussing decentralized finance (DeFi) issues with Trump or his team during the event. Vincent Liu, chief investment officer of Kronos Research, shared photos from the dinner and mentioned the opportunity to meet the former president simply by holding the token.
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Former NBA champion Lamar Odom also attended. Odom launched his own memecoin, ODOM, just days before the event. His coin, focused on anti-addiction themes and issued on the Solana blockchain, offered a staking program linked to the $TRUMP token. Odom’s participation promoted his new memecoin alongside the gathering.
Sangrok Oh, CEO of Hyperithm, a cryptocurrency management firm based in Seoul and Tokyo, was another notable attendee. Oh held over $3 million in $TRUMP tokens and brought “Make Crypto Great Again” hats to distribute. He indicated the event served as a fundraiser and expected direct interaction with Trump.
Anonymous Attendees and Crypto Influencers
Several attendees maintained anonymity, identified only by their wallet pseudonyms. “Ice,” co-founder of MemeCore, a Singaporean crypto company, spoke on how memes influence culture and movements. Another, “Ogle,” a cybersecurity advisor to Trump’s World Liberty Financial, attended out of curiosity and did not endorse Trump personally.
“Cryptoo Bear,” a Japanese crypto trader and occasional reporter, also attended and noted the promised photo opportunity with Trump did not materialize. Outside the country club, protests erupted, with demonstrators shouting at attendees and labeling the event corrupt. Senator Jeff Merkley and former Treasury official Ken Papaj joined the protests, criticizing the event as a sale of influence.
The dinner occurred amid ongoing debates in Congress over cryptocurrency regulation and anti-corruption measures targeting political figures and crypto businesses. The exclusive event illustrates the close ties between some crypto executives and political figures. It also raises questions about foreign influence and the blending of private business interests with political activities.
