Donald Trump’s meme coin, $TRUMP , which debuted on the Solana blockchain in mid‑January, continues to roil crypto markets. Major exchanges fast‑tracked its listing—8 out of the top 10 on boarded the token within just 48 hours, far quicker than the usual 129‑day vetting period .
This rush fueled a frenzy: the coin’s market cap surged as high as $15 billion before crashing to around $1.9 billion. The fallout hit retail investors hard—roughly 700,000 wallets lost an estimated $4.3 billion—while insiders, including Trump and associates who controlled 80% of the supply, made sizable gains .
Crypto platforms themselves also reaped rewards. They minted an estimated $172 million just from listing and trading activity tied to $TRUMP .
Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill a wave of “crypto‑friendly” momentum dubbed Crypto Week is unfolding. The Senate’s GENIUS Act (to govern stablecoins) and other bills aimed at integrating crypto into traditional finance are advancing rapidly—likely sped along by Trump’s pro‑crypto stance .
In summation: $TRUMP illustrates a dramatic case of hype-fueled asset mania, with outsized rewards for insiders and significant losses for many others. It’s now entwined with political developments shaping the future of crypto regulation.