The news that TRUMP TRUMP/USD meme coin holders may be eligible for a dinner with the president has sparked a heated debate about the ethics of this marketing campaign.
What Happened: One commentator highlighted the possible legal implication for the meme coin, describing it as a hybrid between a political access pass and a high-risk speculative asset.
Molly White, a researcher tracking Web3 developments, highlighted a whale who bought $8 million worth of TRUMP tokens, funded from a Binance account, hinting at international involvement.
One commentator noted that a trader jumped in with a $5 million buy after the dinner news broke, while another prematurely sold 630,000 tokens just before the announcement, forfeiting a potential $4.5 million in profits.
Also Read: Trader Dumps TRUMP Tokens Before Presidential Dinner Revelation: Meal Cost Early Seller $4.5 Million
Why It Matters: Launched on Solana in the run-up to the presidential inauguration, TRUMP was originally framed as a collectible, with no promised utility, likely to sidestep securities law.
About 80% of its supply remains controlled by insiders, further casting the token as a pure collectable meme coin with no expectation not utility, no cross-over of an investment contract under Howey Test.
But that legal grey area may be shifting.
Offering access to real-world, high-value experiences like a private dinner with a presidential candidate may create an “expectation of profit through the efforts of others”, one of the key thresholds that defines a security in U.S. law.
As Trump’s political capital merges with crypto culture, the TRUMP token now functions as a blend of status symbol, speculative vehicle, and political fan badge, raising urgent regulatory and ethical questions.
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