Trump meme coins, primarily the official TRUMP token launched on January 17, 2025 (just before his second inauguration on Solana blockchain), along with family-linked ones like MELANIA, have generated massive hype and volatility. While the coins’ market cap peaked at billions, blockchain analyses (e.g., from Chainalysis, Nansen, and Inca Digital) show stark inequality: small retail investors suffered collective losses exceeding $2–3.87 billion across 764,000–813,000 wallets, often due to post-hype crashes (e.g., TRUMP fell from $75 to ~$17). In contrast, insiders, large whales, and Trump-affiliated entities captured the bulk of gains through early allocations, trading fees, and strategic sales. Total fees routed to creators/partners reached $100–320 million by mid-2025, with whale profits hitting $1.1–1.5 billion.
Profits stem from:
• Pre-launch allocations: 80% of TRUMP supply held by Trump entities, unlocked gradually.
• Trading fees: Automated cuts (e.g., via Meteora exchange) funneled to creators.
• Pump-and-dump dynamics: Early buyers sold into retail frenzy.
• Promotional perks: Events like a May 2025 dinner at Trump’s Virginia golf club, where top 220 holders (many foreign) spent $148 million in buys, boosting fees by $1.35 million.
Below are the key profiteers, substantiated by reports and on-chain data.
1. Trump and His Family/Entities (Primary Insiders)
• Donald Trump and the Trump Organization: Through the Donald Trump Revocable Trust, Trump owns 100% of CIC Digital LLC, which holds ~80% of TRUMP supply alongside Fight Fight Fight LLC (a Trump-linked entity). This stake, valued at up to $6.2 billion at peak market cap (though unrealized and volatile), plus $100–320 million in trading fees, has boosted the family’s net worth by ~$2.9 billion from crypto overall. Trump promoted the coin on Truth Social (e.g., “I Love TRUMP– SO COOL!!” in March 2025, spiking price 12%), and events like the dinner added utility, driving buys. Critics call it a conflict of interest, as his pro-crypto policies (e.g., pausing SEC probes) inflated values.
• Melania Trump: Her MELANIA coin (launched days after TRUMP) diluted the market but generated similar fees; family holdings profited ~$385 million realized by August 2025.
• Other Family Ties: Eric and Donald Trump Jr. lead World Liberty Financial (a Trump-affiliated crypto exchange), which integrated TRUMP trading and captured related fees. No direct personal profits disclosed, but family entities routed $324 million in fees by May 2025
#DogecoinETFProgress #BinanceHODLerHEMI #MarketPullback #BinanceHODLerBARD #GoldHitsRecordHigh