{"id":26448,"date":"2025-05-13T05:47:24","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T05:47:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/148-million-later-trumps-crypto-dinner-raises-eyebrows\/"},"modified":"2025-05-13T05:47:24","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T05:47:24","slug":"148-million-later-trumps-crypto-dinner-raises-eyebrows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/?p=26448","title":{"rendered":"$148 Million Later, Trump\u2019s Crypto Dinner Raises Eyebrows"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It was pitched as the ultimate crypto flex: buy enough $TRUMP coin and you just might get dinner with the man himself. Now, that\u2019s exactly what 220 crypto whales are getting: a private gala with former President Donald Trump at his golf club near Washington, D.C., on May 22. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">All they had to do was hold onto enough of his meme <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">coin,<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> long <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">enough,<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> to make the leaderboard. However, critics say the Trump crypto dinner may blur the lines between political fundraising and digital asset promotion.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Top <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%24TRUMP&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">$TRUMP<\/a> whales are sitting on $174M in tokens <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.1.0\/72x72\/1f440.png\" alt=\"\ud83d\udc40\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em; max-height: 1em;\"><\/p>\n<p>All set for background checks before the May 22 dinner + VIP tour with the big man himself. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Lxx9icOSMu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/Lxx9icOSMu<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jesse.LSD (@JesseWoodLSD) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JesseWoodLSD\/status\/1922125349246124061?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">May 13, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But while some are celebrating, others are asking some very uncomfortable questions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>DISCOVER: <a class=\"general-link\" href=\"https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/cryptocurrency\/best-meme-coin-icos\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Best Meme Coin ICOs to Invest in May 2025<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">How the Contest Worked<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The setup was simple but costly. The top 220 wallets holding $TRUMP, weighted by time and amount, secured themselves an invitation to dine with Trump. The top 25 get extra perks, including a VIP reception and behind-the-scenes access.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Just made it into the Top 25 of the Trump Meme Contest\u2014heading to the VIP Reception &amp; Gala Dinner on May 22 at Trump National Golf Club DC, plus a private VIP tour the next day!<br \/>Proud to support President Trump\u2019s pro-crypto vision. Web3 needs bold, decisive leadership to thrive\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/u1h6Ur2I1I\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/u1h6Ur2I1I<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Sheldon (@sheldonbitmart) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sheldonbitmart\/status\/1922109920406864094?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">May 13, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">According to on-chain data, those wallets poured in a total of $148 million worth of $TRUMP coins during the contest. For some, it was a golden ticket. For others,<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> a <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">high-stakes gamble that didn\u2019t quite pay off.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Winners and Losers<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The $TRUMP coin soared in value after the dinner contest was announced. At one <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">point,<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> it peaked near $75 before falling back to around $14. That kind of volatility is par for the course with meme coins, but it hit hard this time.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"chart crypto-chart-instance\" id=\"crypto_chart_6822dc251c89f\" data-coin-id=\"trump-trump\">\n<div class=\"chart__header\">\n<div class=\"chart__info\">\n<div class=\"chart__info-icon\">\n                <img id=\"crypto_chart_6822dc251c89f-chart__info-icon-img\">\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"chart__info-name\" id=\"crypto_chart_6822dc251c89f-chart__info-name\">&#8211;<\/div>\n<div class=\"chart__info-label\">Price<\/div>\n<div class=\"chart__info-label\">Market Cap<\/div>\n<div class=\"chart__info-value\" id=\"crypto_chart_6822dc251c89f-chart__info-symbol\">&#8211;<\/div>\n<div class=\"chart__info-value\" id=\"crypto_chart_6822dc251c89f-chart__info-price\">&#8211;<\/div>\n<div class=\"chart__info-value\" id=\"crypto_chart_6822dc251c89f-chart__info-marketcap\">&#8211;<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"chart__controls\">\n<div class=\"chart__controls-group\">\n                <button class=\"chart__button chart__button--24h\" id=\"crypto_chart_6822dc251c89f-btn-24h\">24h<\/button><br \/>\n                <button class=\"chart__button chart__button--7d\" id=\"crypto_chart_6822dc251c89f-btn-7d\">7d<\/button><br \/>\n                <button class=\"chart__button chart__button--30d\" id=\"crypto_chart_6822dc251c89f-btn-30d\">30d<\/button><br \/>\n                <button class=\"chart__button chart__button--1y\" id=\"crypto_chart_6822dc251c89f-btn-1y\">1y<\/button><br \/>\n                <button class=\"chart__button chart__button--all-time\" id=\"crypto_chart_6822dc251c89f-btn-all-time\">All Time<\/button>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"chart__controls-group\">\n                <button class=\"chart__button chart__button--logarithmic\" id=\"crypto_chart_6822dc251c89f-btn-log\">Log<\/button>\n            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"chart__container\">\n        <canvas class=\"chart__canvas\" id=\"crypto_chart_6822dc251c89f-cryptoChart\"><\/canvas>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>DISCOVER: <a class=\"general-link\" href=\"https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/cryptocurrency\/best-solana-meme-coins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Top Solana Meme Coins to Buy in May 2025<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Roughly 593,000 wallets have lost money since the coin\u2019s January launch. In total, around $3.9 billion in losses have been tallied across the board, showing just how skewed the distribution has been.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">One trader wins a dinner. Thousands walk away in the red. That\u2019s crypto for you.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Trump Crypto Dinner: The Ethics Debate<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Critics aren\u2019t just pointing to the price swings. They\u2019re pointing to the whole concept: a political figure offering private access in exchange for crypto holdings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Senator Richard Blumenthal has already launched an ethics inquiry, asking whether Trump\u2019s contest crosses a line between campaign gimmick and pay-for-access scheme. After all, getting into the same room as a U.S. president, or a presidential candidate, is typically something that goes through a lot more filters than a wallet tracker.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Foreign Wallets in the Spotlight<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Then there\u2019s the matter of who\u2019s actually attending. The top $TRUMP holder isn\u2019t based in the U.S. It\u2019s <a class=\"general-link\" href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/trump-hosting-dinner-biggest-buyers-221016203.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener nofollow\">a wallet tied to HTX<\/a>, a Seychelles-based exchange linked to Chinese crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">That\u2019s raised even more eyebrows, especially with concerns around foreign influence and national security. Some of the major wallets reportedly used platforms that are blocked in the U.S., meaning these participants may not even be domestic citizens.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For a political dinner tied to someone who might be in the White House again next year, that\u2019s a serious red flag for some lawmakers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A Meal to Remember<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What started as a flashy meme coin promo has turned into a lightning rod for controversy. Trump\u2019s crypto dinner might be serving steak and shrimp, but it\u2019s also serving up serious questions about money, access, and influence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As crypto gets deeper into politics, the line between hype and ethics is getting harder to draw, and this event may be the clearest example of that yet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">DISCOVER:\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"general-link\" href=\"https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/cryptocurrency\/next-crypto-to-explode\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a class=\"general-link\" href=\"https:\/\/discord.gg\/B7Uk6agkqj\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener nofollow\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    <\/p>\n<div class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways\">\n<h3 class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways__title\">Key Takeaways<\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    <\/p>\n<ul class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways__list\">\n        <\/ul>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    <\/p>\n<li class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways__list-item\">\n        Trump\u2019s crypto dinner required participants to hold large amounts of $TRUMP tokens, with 220 wallets gaining access after collectively spending $148 million.    <\/li>\n<p>    <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    <\/p>\n<li class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways__list-item\">\n        The coin\u2019s value surged after the contest was announced, peaking near $75 before falling to around $<\/li>\n<p><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">14, <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">leaving an estimated 593,000 wallets in the red.<br \/>\n    <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    <\/p>\n<li class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways__list-item\">\n        Critics have raised ethical concerns, accusing Trump of selling political access through a meme coin-based leaderboard system.    <\/li>\n<p>    <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    <\/p>\n<li class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways__list-item\">\n        Senator Richard Blumenthal has launched an ethics probe to examine whether the dinner violates campaign finance or pay-for-access norms.    <\/li>\n<p>    <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    <\/p>\n<li class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways__list-item\">\n        The top $TRUMP holder is reportedly linked to Justin Sun\u2019s HTX exchange, raising flags about foreign involvement and national security risks.    <\/li>\n<p>    <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><br \/>\n    <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>    <\/span><\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/news\/legal\/148-million-later-trumps-crypto-dinner-raises-eyebrows\/\">$148 Million Later, Trump\u2019s Crypto Dinner Raises Eyebrows<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/\">99Bitcoins<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It was pitched as the ultimate crypto flex: buy enough $TRUMP coin and you just might get dinner with the man himself. Now, that\u2019s exactly what 220 crypto whales are getting: a private gala with former President Donald Trump at his golf club near Washington, D.C., on May 22. All they had to do was [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[3,4,5],"class_list":["post-26448","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-crypto","tag-doge","tag-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26448","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=26448"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26448\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26448"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26448"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26448"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}