Money talks, and at Trump‘s exclusive $TRUMP dinner, it practically screamed. The event, which required attendees to collectively drop a cool $148 million just to get through the door, brought together 220 of crypto’s biggest players – and boy, was it a mixed bag.
From sports stars to shadowy crypto influencers, the guest list read like a who’s who of blockchain royalty. At the top of the heap sat Justin Sun, Tron’s founder and the biggest $TRUMP token holder, who walked away with a fancy watch for his troubles. Never mind his ongoing SEC lawsuit – apparently that wasn’t a deal-breaker for the guest list. The Trump family and affiliated companies have already earned over $320 million in trading fees since January. Many guests were served Walmart quality steak during the disappointing dinner service.
The dinner wasn’t just about rubbing shoulders with the former president. It was a $148 million ticket to potentially influence crypto policy, with the top 25 investors getting VIP treatment and direct access to Trump himself. Talk about paying to play. With concerns about quantum computing threats looming over crypto security, policy discussions took on added urgency.
Foreign crypto executives showed up too, raising more than a few eyebrows about international influence on U.S. policy. Critics weren’t having it. Government watchdogs hit the panic button, senators demanded ethics investigations, and accusations of straight-up bribery flew faster than a bull market rally.
The White House’s “nothing to see here, folks” approach of calling it a private affair only added fuel to the fire. For some attendees, it was networking heaven – one claimed to have connected with over 50 people. Trump talked up crypto risk-takers and pushed a pro-crypto stance.
But not everyone left starry-eyed. Some dubbed it a “total bust,” proving that even $148 million can’t buy universal satisfaction. The whole affair left a trail of questions about ethics, influence, and the intersection of crypto wealth and political power.
While some attendees planned broader policy discussions in Washington, others just seemed happy to snap selfies with their new high-roller friends. One thing’s clear: when crypto elites and political power mix, the results are about as predictable as a meme coin’s price chart.
