Trump coin surges by 50%, marketing model questioned

On Wednesday, President Trump's meme coin, "Trump Coin," experienced a dramatic 50% surge, with prices soaring to $14.70, the highest since March. The spike seems to be driven by a theatrical strategy from its issuer, who initiated a "ranking" marketing campaign aimed at attracting investors through a planned dinner event. Trump Coin's official website announced Trump would host a dinner at the Trump National Golf Club in Washington on May 22, inviting the top 220 coin holders to dine and listen to his speech on "The Future of Cryptocurrency." The top 25 "elite holders" of Trump Coin will receive special privileges, including attending a pre-dinner reception and a VIP tour of the White House the following day.

Following the announcement, the price of Trump Coin rose swiftly, sparking excitement among traders. According to Coinbase data, the coin's price hit an overnight high of $14.70 after the campaign launch, standing significantly higher than prices earlier in March. This uptick came as the market was gearing up for the anticipated entrance of more investors and insiders due to the lifting of trading restrictions on Trump Coin.

Since its release in the days leading up to Trump's inauguration, Trump Coin has been surrounded by controversy. Its price has skyrocketed from about $6 to a peak of $75, drawing criticism from cryptocurrency experts who allege that Trump is exploiting supporters' enthusiasm for financial gain. Industry analysts estimate Trump's cryptocurrency project has grossed at least $350 million from its token launch in January.

Currently, about 80% of Trump Coin is held by CIC Digital, a company affiliated with the Trump Organization, and its joint venture Fight Fight Fight LLC. According to a dedicated event website, eligibility for the dinner invitations will be determined based on the average value of Trump Coin held from April 23 to May 12. Participants can check their rankings on the official $TRUMP leaderboard, which states, "The more Trump Coins you hold and the longer you hold them, the higher your ranking will be."

As of early morning Beijing time, 244 users have connected their crypto wallets to the leaderboard, with the top-ranked user "CASE" holding about 400,000 Trump Coins. Based on market capitalization, CoinMarketCap currently ranks Trump Coin as the 37th largest cryptocurrency, with a latest market value of approximately $2.6 billion.

Due to its significant price volatility, Trump Coin has become one of the most talked-about meme coins in the crypto market this year. These tokens typically derive their value from internet pop culture, personalities, or current events. In February, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) stated that such tokens are more like collectibles and do not fall under the purview of federal securities laws.

The market carries risks, and investment should be cautious. This article does not constitute personal investment advice and has not taken into account individual users' specific investment goals, financial situations, or needs. Users should consider whether any opinions, viewpoints, or conclusions in this article are suitable for their particular circumstances. Investing based on this is at one's own responsibility.