Citation Needed is an independent publication, entirely supported by readers like you. Consider signing up for a pay-what-you-can subscription to support this kind of deep analysis and reporting.
Of the 220 largest holders, 161 (73%) are likely based outside the United States. Among the top 25 “VIP” guests offered additional private access to the president, 23 are likely foreign entities.
The event likely violates federal ethics laws that explicitly prohibit presidents from exchanging access and influence for money. The prevalence of non-US attendees also raises additional concerns with respect to foreign influence.
Edited 38d ago
The 220 wallets currently listed on the leaderboard of token holders hold a combined 12.5 million $TRUMP, notionally priced at around $137 million.
Median holdings are around $83,600. 34 attendees have holdings currently priced at $1 million or more.
![Each of the VIP attendees has paid between $1.25 million and $16 million for the holdings securing them a spot on the list.
[Column graph of current holdings in USD, and weighted holdings in USD. Two holders hold between $12 and $16 million, the rest are between $1.25 and $5 million]
Out of all 220 invitees, most have $TRUMP holdings priced in the mid-five figures, with a median of around $83,600. 34 attendees have holdings currently priced at $1 million or more.](/proxy/post_attachment/494730/9ee9390c1d.png "Each of the VIP attendees has paid between $1.25 million and $16 million for the holdings securing them a spot on the list.
[Column graph of current holdings in USD, and weighted holdings in USD. Two holders hold between $12 and $16 million, the rest are between $1.25 and $5 million]
Out of all 220 invitees, most have $TRUMP holdings priced in the mid-five figures, with a median of around $83,600. 34 attendees have holdings currently priced at $1 million or more.")
The largest holder, with $16 million in $TRUMP tokens, is likely Justin Sun. He has registered using a hot wallet belonging to his HTX crypto exchange, meaning he may well be using customer funds to obtain a seat at the table. Sun has previously contributed $75 million to Trump’s WLFI project.
Other invitees include “Ogle” (a pseudonymous crypto researcher who accepted an advisory position to Trump’s World Liberty project), representatives from a project called MemeCore, and crypto traders who go by “Smooth Operator”, “Booblino”, and “GiantBabyCorn”.
![Other entries on the list include a fledgling endeavor called LuckyFuture, whose two-week-old website boasts that it will be an “AI-based ETF” that will also provide lending. It’s not clear where it’s is based, though it’s likely outside of the US, as its TRUMP tokens were purchased using wallets at Binance and OKX. Another attendee is likely to be “Ogle”, a pseudonymous crypto security researcher recruited as an adviser by World Liberty Financial in September 2024. Ogle said he was motivated to join as an adviser to increase “the likelihood of [World Liberty Financial] not hurting a lot of people.”
Image: “Ogle”, a man wearing sunglasses, hat, and a bandana covering his lower face
Caption: Ogle in a September 2024 appearance on the Unchained podcast
Other identifiable wallets include one associated with the Asian BTOK crypto messaging app, the Korean BugsCoin crypto trading simulator, and crypto traders who go by “Smooth Operator”, “Booblino”, “GiantBabyCorn”, and “0xSolarcurve”. None of these individuals or entities have responded to requests for comment; GiantBabyCorn and 0xSolarcurve could not be reached](/proxy/post_attachment/494734/2c8f80b488.png "Other entries on the list include a fledgling endeavor called LuckyFuture, whose two-week-old website boasts that it will be an “AI-based ETF” that will also provide lending. It’s not clear where it’s is based, though it’s likely outside of the US, as its TRUMP tokens were purchased using wallets at Binance and OKX. Another attendee is likely to be “Ogle”, a pseudonymous crypto security researcher recruited as an adviser by World Liberty Financial in September 2024. Ogle said he was motivated to join as an adviser to increase “the likelihood of [World Liberty Financial] not hurting a lot of people.”
Image: “Ogle”, a man wearing sunglasses, hat, and a bandana covering his lower face
Caption: Ogle in a September 2024 appearance on the Unchained podcast
Other identifiable wallets include one associated with the Asian BTOK crypto messaging app, the Korean BugsCoin crypto trading simulator, and crypto traders who go by “Smooth Operator”, “Booblino”, “GiantBabyCorn”, and “0xSolarcurve”. None of these individuals or entities have responded to requests for comment; GiantBabyCorn and 0xSolarcurve could not be reached")
Others trying to secure spots on the list have spent as much as $180,000 only to find themselves well below the threshold for an invite, battling against an opaque time-weighting mechanic meant to prioritize those who’ve held the token for longer.
@molly0xfff They're missing an opportunity to raise money by charging *to never, ever* be in a room with these people.
@molly0xfff OH MY GOD I am pretty sure MY MOM is "Booblino!"
Or maybe that was a fucked up dream I had
Edited 38d ago
The attempt to drum up new interest in the token by selling access to Trump seems to have worked, with most attendees purchasing tokens only after the announcement. Trump is profiting from both trading fees and price appreciation.
This is only the latest in a series of crypto ventures enriching Trump while creating unprecedented conflicts of interest, as the president simultaneously shapes crypto policy and intervenes in regulatory actions. Even some of his most ardent supporters are getting uncomfortable.
![The $TRUMP dinner represents the latest in a series of crypto ventures that have enriched Trump and his family while creating unprecedented conflicts of interest, as the president simultaneously shapes crypto policy and intervenes in regulatory actions. Even prior to its transformation into a dinner invitation, ethics watchdogs and legislators alike sounded the alarm over the memecoin as “the single worst conflict of interest in the modern history of the presidency”.8 Now, even some of Trump’s biggest allies are getting uncomfortable, with Republican Cynthia Lummis admitting the dinner “gives [her] pause”.9 Democrat Jon Ossoff, speaking at a town hall, commented that “granting audiences to people who buy his memecoin” is “no question ... an impeachable offense.”](/proxy/post_attachment/494740/900c457f00.png "The $TRUMP dinner represents the latest in a series of crypto ventures that have enriched Trump and his family while creating unprecedented conflicts of interest, as the president simultaneously shapes crypto policy and intervenes in regulatory actions. Even prior to its transformation into a dinner invitation, ethics watchdogs and legislators alike sounded the alarm over the memecoin as “the single worst conflict of interest in the modern history of the presidency”.8 Now, even some of Trump’s biggest allies are getting uncomfortable, with Republican Cynthia Lummis admitting the dinner “gives [her] pause”.9 Democrat Jon Ossoff, speaking at a town hall, commented that “granting audiences to people who buy his memecoin” is “no question ... an impeachable offense.”")
@molly0xfff Remember when we were worried about him benefiting from the Old Post Office hotel in DC the first time around?🤪
The guy who could bankrupt casinos was never going to get super rich from foreign dignitaries staying at his hotel, this made up money scheme is a gold mine!
@molly0xfff The lack of enforcement of the emoluments clause the first time, and four years off to really get some good plans in place have really benefitted him!