$Trump

{{Tweet

| name = Donald J. Trump 15px

| username = realDonaldTrump

| date = January 17, 2025

| text = My NEW Official Trump Meme is HERE! It's time to celebrate everything we stand for: WINNING! Join my very special Trump Community. GET YOUR $TRUMP NOW. Go to gettrumpmemes.com/ — Have Fun!

| ID = 1880446012168249386

| image = TrumpPortrait.jpg

| reference = {{Cite web |title=My NEW Official Trump Meme is HERE! |url=https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1880446012168249386 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119145757/https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1880446012168249386 |archive-date=January 19, 2025 |access-date=January 19, 2025 |website=X (formerly Twitter)}}

| width = 300px

}}

The Trump meme coin was launched on January 17, 2025, three days before Trump was inaugurated as president of the United States. The lack of a public announcement initially led to concerns that the cryptocurrency was a scam and might have no association to the president-elect.{{Cite web |date=January 19, 2025 |title=Trump launches his own meme coin, and its value soars to billions overnight |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3295345/trump-launches-his-own-meme-coin-and-its-value-soars-billions-overnight |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118192208/https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3295345/trump-launches-his-own-meme-coin-and-its-value-soars-billions-overnight |archive-date=January 18, 2025 |access-date=January 18, 2025 |website=South China Morning Post |publisher=Agence France-Presse}} Several hours later, Trump announced $TRUMP on his X and Truth social accounts.{{Cite web |last=Snider |first=Mike |date=January 18, 2025 |title=Trump mints $31 billion with new official $TRUMP crypto meme coin |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/01/18/trump-meme-coin-price-crypto/77802704007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118184319/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/01/18/trump-meme-coin-price-crypto/77802704007/ |archive-date=January 18, 2025 |access-date=January 18, 2025 |website=USA Today}} The meme coin website described it as the "only official Trump meme".{{Cite web |last=Ishmael |first=Stacy-Marie |date=January 19, 2025 |title=Crypto Fans Bid Up Trump-Branded Token Days Before Inauguration |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-18/crypto-fans-bid-up-trump-branded-token-days-before-inauguration |website=Bloomberg}}{{Cite news |last=Faguy |first=Ana |date=18 January 2025 |title=Trump launches cryptocurrency with price rocketing |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9vmym2jvy9o |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119103615/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9vmym2jvy9o |archive-date=January 19, 2025 |access-date=18 January 2025 |work=BBC News}} Its logo is a cartoon image of Trump raising his fist after surviving the attempted assassination in July 2024.{{Cite news |last=Lipton |first=Eric |date=18 January 2025 |title=Trump Begins Selling New Crypto Token, Raising Ethical Concerns |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/18/us/politics/trump-meme-coin-crypto.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118230744/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/18/us/politics/trump-meme-coin-crypto.html |archive-date=January 18, 2025 |access-date=18 January 2025 |work=The New York Times}} A disclaimer said that the coin was "not intended to be, or the subject of" an investment opportunity or a security and was "not political and has nothing to do with" any political campaign, political office or government agency. The terms of the offering prohibit coin buyers from joining any class-action lawsuits against the project and assert indemnity against any claims.{{Cite news |last1=Ge Huang |first1=Vicky |last2=Ostroff |first2=Caitlin |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Crypto Thought Trump Would Bring It Legitimacy. Then He Launched a Meme Coin. |url=https://www.wsj.com/finance/currencies/trump-meme-coin-cryptocurrency-eda5d5d9?st=mPYRj4&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalinkTrump |work=The Wall Street Journal}} Trump promoted the coin on the night of its ICO while a "Crypto Ball" was underway.{{Cite news |last=Goodman |first=Jasper |date=January 18, 2025 |title=Trump launches crypto meme coin, ballooning net worth ahead of inauguration |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/18/trump-crypto-meme-coin-inauguration-00199157 |work=Politico}}

After its launch, its price soared by over 300% overnight.{{Cite news |last=Roush |first=Ty |date=January 19, 2025 |title=Donald Trump Launches $TRUMP Meme Coin—Token Hits $9 Billion Market Cap |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2025/01/19/donald-trump-launches-trump-meme-coin-token-exceeds-12-billion-market-cap/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120031707/https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2025/01/19/donald-trump-launches-trump-meme-coin-token-exceeds-12-billion-market-cap/ |archive-date=January 20, 2025 |access-date=January 20, 2025 |work=Forbes}} Within two days, it became the 19th most valuable form of cryptocurrency in the world, with a total trading value of nearly $13 billion, and a total of $29 billion worth of trades based on a $64 value of each of the 200 million tokens issued by the afternoon of January 19. The New York Times reported that Trump affiliates controlled an additional 800 million tokens that, hypothetically, could be worth over $56 billion, potentially making Trump one of the richest people in the world at an estimated net worth of $63.8 billion.{{Cite web |last=Salmon |first=Felix |date=2025-01-19 |title=Donald Trump is the newest crypto billionaire |url=https://www.axios.com/2025/01/19/donald-trump-crypto-billionaire |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119210121/https://www.axios.com/2025/01/19/donald-trump-crypto-billionaire |archive-date=January 19, 2025 |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=Axios |language=en}} On January 19, 2025, Trump's wife Melania launched her own meme coin, $Melania.{{Cite news |last1=Lipton |first1=Eric |last2=Yaffe-Bellany |first2=David |date=January 19, 2025 |title=Trump's Cryptocurrency Surges to Become One of the World's Most Valuable |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/19/us/politics/trump-cryptocurrency-surges.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119214523/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/19/us/politics/trump-cryptocurrency-surges.html |archive-date=January 19, 2025 |access-date=January 19, 2025 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}

A March 2025, a Financial Times analysis found that the crypto project netted at least $350 million ($314 million from the sale of the tokens and $36 million from fees).

{{Main|Donald Trump's memecoin dinner}}

In April 2025, the top 220 holders of the coin were offered dinner with the president, and the very top 25 holders would receive a special VIP White House tour. Following the announcement, the coin jumped more than 50%.{{Cite web |last=Sigalos |first=MacKenzie |date=23 Apr 2025 |title=Trump meme coin surges 50% after top holders offered dinner with the president |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/23/trump-coin-surges-50percent-after-president-promises-dinner-with-top-holders.html |website=CNBC |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Khalili |first=Joel |title=Trump's Quest for Crypto Riches Is a Constitutional Scandal Waiting to Happen |url=https://www.wired.com/story/trumps-quest-for-crypto-riches-is-a-constitutional-scandal-waiting-to-happen/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250502142408/https://www.wired.com/story/trumps-quest-for-crypto-riches-is-a-constitutional-scandal-waiting-to-happen/ |archive-date=2 May 2025 |work=Wired.com |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}} Analysis found that leaked information about the promotion allowed certain traders to make bets on the coin before it was publicly announced. According to The New York Times, certain buyers in interviews and statements said they "bought the coins or entered the dinner contest with the intention of securing an action by Mr. Trump to affect United States policy".{{Cite news |last1=Lipton |first1=Eric |last2=Yaffe-Bellany |first2=David |date=May 12, 2025 |title=Auction to Dine With Trump Creates Foreign Influence Opportunity |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/12/us/politics/trump-crypto-coin-auction.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=May 18, 2025 |issn=0362-4331}} On May 13, The New York Times reported that GD Culture Group, a small company with ties to China, no reported revenue in 2024, and affiliated with TikTok, announced it would spent $300 million on purchasing Bitcoin and $TRUMP using proceeds from "a stock sale to an unnamed entity in the British Virgin Islands". The purchase was the first known instance of a China-linked firm buying Trump's cryptocurrency. TikTok is facing a ban in the US, although Trump has postponed the decision several times.{{Cite news |last1=Yaffe-Bellany |first1=David |last2=Lipton |first2=Eric |date=2025-05-13 |title=Tiny Company With China Ties Announces Big Purchase of Trump Cryptocurrency |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/us/politics/trump-crypto-purchase.html |access-date=2025-05-14 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

According to the memecoin's website, ownership of the token is largely concentrated in two Trump owned entities: CIC Digital LLC and Fight Fight Fight LLC, which together hold 80 percent of the coins remaining after the ICO.{{Cite web |last=Massa |first=Annie |date=January 19, 2025 |title=Trump's Memecoin Creates Billions From Thin Air Before DC Return |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-19/trump-s-memecoin-creates-billions-from-thin-air-before-dc-return?embedded-checkout=true |website=Bloomberg}} Trump's personal profit under this ownership structure is unclear. The holdings are scheduled for gradual release over three years.{{Cite web |last=Faguy |first=Ana |title=Trump launches meme coin, $TRump days before return to White House |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9vmym2jvy9o |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=BBC News |date=January 18, 2025 |language=en-GB}}

The SEC's Division of Corporation Finance stated that meme coins like $TRUMP do not qualify as securities under federal law, citing their speculative nature and lack of inherent utility.{{Cite web |title=SEC.gov {{!}} Staff Statement on Meme Coins |url=https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/speeches-statements/staff-statement-meme-coins |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=www.sec.gov}} However, CFTC officials argued for jurisdiction over meme coins as commodities, emphasizing their authority to prosecute market manipulation.{{Cite web |last=Lokenauth |first=Andrew |date=2025-01-20 |title=Everything You Need to Know About Donald Trump's $TRUMP Meme Coin |url=https://andrewlokenauth.com/trump-cryptocurrency/ |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=Andrew Lokenauth |language=en-US}}

Some crypto executives and investors said Trump had undermined the credibility of the industry they had worked hard to build by selling coins known for their speculative nature and extreme volatility. They also noted Trump's brazen conflict of interest by setting crypto market policies while directly benefiting from participating in the market. Some noted its similarity to a "rug pull", in which a coin is launched and quickly abandoned, leaving early investors with steep losses. The Wall Street Journal reported "Even the most ardent Trump supporters reached a breaking point when the $MELANIA token launched less than 48 hours after" $TRUMP, with one urging Trump to fire the advisor who recommended it. Erik Voorhees, a prominent Bitcoin investor, criticized the coin as "stupid and embarrassing".{{Cite news |last1=Lipton |first1=Eric |last2=Yaffe-Bellany |first2=David |date=2025-01-19 |title=Trump's Cryptocurrency Surges to Become One of the World's Most Valuable |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/19/us/politics/trump-cryptocurrency-surges.html |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news |last=Mohamed |first=Theron |date=January 20, 2025 |title=Crypto leaders worry Trump's meme coin is undermining their credibility |url=https://www.aol.com/crypto-leaders-worry-trumps-meme-143522774.html |work=Business Insider |agency=via AOL.com}}

The crypto venture was criticized by ethics experts and government watchdogs. The venture and the possibility of foreign governments buying the coin and enriching Trump was highlighted as possibly violating the Constitution's foreign emoluments clause.{{Cite news |last=Romm |first=Tony |date=January 19, 2025 |title=Trump promotes meme coin, raising ethics issues as value soars |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/01/19/trump-meme-coin-crypto/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 19, 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post |issn=0190-8286}} Critics said it could allow special interests and foreign governments to seek to buy influence with the president.{{Cite news |last=Suderman |first=Alan |date=January 19, 2025 |title=Trump promotes new meme coin before taking office on pro-crypto agenda |url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-meme-coin-token-75bf67ef9e6e54bf455f2f9f03470be3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120020059/https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-meme-coin-token-75bf67ef9e6e54bf455f2f9f03470be3 |archive-date=January 20, 2025 |access-date=January 20, 2025 |publisher=Associated Press}}

The release of $Trump was condemned by ethics lawyers, including Adav Noti, the director of the Campaign Legal Center,{{Cite web |last=Lipton |first=Eric |author-link=Eric Lipton |date=January 18, 2025 |title=Trump Begins Selling New Meme Coin Days Ahead of Inauguration |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/18/us/politics/trump-meme-coin-crypto.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118200948/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/18/us/politics/trump-meme-coin-crypto.html |archive-date=January 18, 2025 |access-date=January 18, 2025 |website=The New York Times}} and Jordan Libowitz, the vice president for communications at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.{{Cite web |last=Goodman |first=Jasper |date=January 18, 2025 |title=Trump launches crypto meme coin, ballooning net worth ahead of inauguration |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/18/trump-crypto-meme-coin-inauguration-00199157 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118232119/https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/18/trump-crypto-meme-coin-inauguration-00199157 |archive-date=January 18, 2025 |access-date=January 18, 2025 |website=Politico}} Nick Tomaino, a former executive at Coinbase, described Trump's ownership and the timing of the cryptocurrency as "predatory". Anthony Scaramucci, a former White House Communications Director during the first Trump administration and current crypto investor, described the coin as "Idi Amin level corruption" and said that the launch of the coin was bad for the cryptocurrency industry. He added, "Now anyone in world can essentially deposit money into bank account of President of USA with a couple clicks."{{Cite news |last=Goodman |first=Jasper |date=18 January 2025 |title=Trump launches crypto meme coin, ballooning net worth ahead of inauguration |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/18/trump-crypto-meme-coin-inauguration-00199157 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118232119/https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/18/trump-crypto-meme-coin-inauguration-00199157 |archive-date=January 18, 2025 |access-date=18 January 2025 |work=Politico}} Brendan Fischer, the deputy executive director at Documented, an investigative news outlet, said, "The timing of this launch cannot be a coincidence. It comes just after Trump's campaign ended, and just before he formally takes office and is fully subject to federal ethics rules."{{Cite magazine |last=Legaspi |first=Althea |date=January 19, 2025 |title=Melania Trump Crypto Meme Coins Are Here Less Than 24 Hours Before Inauguration |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/melania-trump-releases-crypto-memes-1235241282/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120034737/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/melania-trump-releases-crypto-memes-1235241282/ |archive-date=January 20, 2025 |access-date=January 20, 2025 |magazine=Rolling Stone}} With the coin having slumped in value as of the end of early February 2025, the circumstances around the coin have led to wide condemnation from ethics experts and concerns over conflicts of interest as well as allegations from members of Congress that have called for an investigation.{{Cite web |last=Conroy |first=J. Oliver |date=January 31, 2025 |title=The Maga backlash against Trump's crypto grab: 'This is bad, and looks bad' |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/31/trump-cryptocurrency-republicans }}{{Cite news |title=Exclusive: Trump's meme coin made nearly $100 million in trading fees, as small traders lost money |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/trumps-meme-coin-made-nearly-100-million-trading-fees-small-traders-lost-money-2025-02-03/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250225054707/https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/trumps-meme-coin-made-nearly-100-million-trading-fees-small-traders-lost-money-2025-02-03/ |archive-date=2025-02-25 |access-date=2025-05-11 |work=Reuters |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Brichta |first=Maximilian |date=January 30, 2025 |title=Why Trump's meme coin is a cash grab |url=https://theconversation.com/why-trumps-meme-coin-is-a-cash-grab-248215 |website=The Conversation}}

Concerns were raised with some analysts described it as a pump and dump scheme{{Cite web |last=Bratcher |first=Becca |title=Trump Coin Sparks Fury As Industry Grapples With Pump-And-Dump Dread |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/beccabratcher/2025/01/19/trump-coin-sparks-fury-as-industry-grapples-with-pump-and-dump-dread/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=Forbes |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Standard |first=The |title=Trump coin pump and dump scheme fleeces supporters even before inauguration |url=https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/6/225577/Trump-coin-pump-and-dump-scheme-fleeces-supporters-even-before-inauguration |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=The Standard |language=en}} while others viewed it as a "disaster".{{Cite news |date=2025-01-22 |title=Trump Meme Coins Are a Disaster in Waiting |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2025-01-22/trump-meme-coins-are-a-disaster-in-waiting |access-date=2025-01-22 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}} A forensic analysis commissioned by The New York Times concluded that 813,294 wallets lost $2 billion by trading the coin while the president's company and partners profited about $100 million from trading fees.{{Cite web |last=Rogelberg |first=Sasha |title=Thousands of investors in Trump's memecoin lost $2 billion in just weeks while the family and its partners racked up $100 million in trading fees |url=https://fortune.com/2025/02/11/trump-memecoin-traders-2-billion-dollar-loss-family-100-million-fees/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Fortune |language=en}}{{Cite news |last1=Lipton |first1=Eric |last2=Yaffe-Bellany |first2=David |date=2025-02-09 |title=Early Crypto Traders Had Speedy Profit on Trump Coin as Others Suffered Losses |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/09/us/politics/trump-crypto-memecoin.html |access-date=2025-02-14 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} According to Fortune, "Less than three weeks after its release, President Donald Trump's memecoin has produced more losers than winners. For every dollar in trading fees the Trump crypto creators raked in, investors lost $20."

Representative Sam Liccardo, a Democrat who represents Silicon Valley, introduced the Modern Emoluments and Malfeasance Enforcement Act (MEME Act), which would prohibit the issuance or endorsement of any financial asset by the president, senior White House officials, or members of Congress, or their spouses or children. Unlike the Hatch Act, it would introduce a private right of action for anyone harmed by purchasing such assets.{{Cite news |last=Alfred |first=Mark |date=February 27, 2025 |title=Silicon Valley lawmaker wants to make it illegal for Trump to hawk crypto |url=https://sanjosespotlight.com/silicon-valley-lawmaker-wants-to-make-it-illegal-for-trump-to-hawk-crypto/ |access-date=March 1, 2025 |work=San José Spotlight |location=San Jose, California}}

• Donald Trump's stance on cryptocurrencies
• $Libra cryptocurrency scandal, meme coin associated with Argentinian president Javier Milei
• Trump Rebate Banking system, fraudulent products that use Trump's name and likeness
• World Liberty Financial, a decentralized finance project linked with the family of Donald Trump

{{Reflist}}

{{Sister project auto}}

• {{Official website}}

{{Cryptocurrencies}}

{{Trump businesses}}

Category:Solana

Category:2025 establishments in the United States

Category:Business career of Donald Trump

Category:Cryptocurrency in the United States

Category:Internet memes introduced in 2025

Category:Meme coins

Category:Second presidency of Donald Trump

Category:Currencies introduced in 2025

Category:Corruption in the United States