摘要：This move is the latest in a series of unconventional promotions by Trump, who has previously marketed branded products like bible
TMTPOST -- U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has launched a new cryptocurrency token that has surged in value, potentially boosting his net worth just days before his inauguration.
This move is the latest in a series of unconventional promotions by Trump, who has previously marketed branded products like bibles, gold sneakers, and diamond-encrusted watches.
“It’s time to celebrate everything we stand for: WINNING! Join my very special Trump Community,” Trump announced in a social media post on Friday night. The token is being marketed with an image of Trump raising a fist alongside the slogan “FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT,” referencing his defiant response to an attempted assassination at a political rally in July.
Although the website selling the tokens emphasizes they are for symbolic support rather than investment purposes, many buyers are taking them as speculative assets. Initially priced at $10, the Trump tokens skyrocketed to $70 by Sunday morning before plummeting later in the day. The decline coincided with Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, promoting a separate meme coin linked to her name, which was trading at around $5 on Sunday afternoon.
Meme coins, a quirky and volatile sector of the cryptocurrency market, often begin as jokes with no intrinsic value but can see dramatic price increases if they gain popularity. Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency famously associated with a dog mascot and lighthearted memes, is an example. However, meme coins have also been criticized as tools for scammers to exploit naive investors.
Supporters of the Trump meme coin have hailed its release as a gesture of solidarity with the cryptocurrency industry, which they believe was unfairly targeted by the Biden administration. Trump has vowed to introduce crypto-friendly regulations and has appointed crypto advocates to key government positions.
Critics, however, have raised concerns about the ethical implications of the coin. “Now anyone in the world can essentially deposit money into the bank account of the President of the USA with a couple of clicks,” Anthony Scaramucci, Trump’s former White House communications director, said on social media platform X.
The Trump meme coin is being sold by CIC Digital, a Trump Organization affiliate. According to its website, 200 million tokens are currently available, with plans to issue up to 1 billion over the next three years. CIC Digital and another associated company collectively hold 80% of the tokens and will profit from trading activities.
The Trump Organization recently implemented an ethics agreement prohibiting Trump from participating in its day-to-day operations during his presidency and restricting the flow of financial information about the business to him.
Trump’s foray into cryptocurrency is not entirely new. Last year, he ventured into nonfungible tokens (NFTs), earning between $100,000 and $1 million from a collection of digital trading cards featuring cartoonish depictions of himself as an astronaut, cowboy, and superhero.
His social media company, Truth Social, has also defied conventional valuation metrics. Despite challenges in generating revenue, the company is valued at over $8 billion, fueled by the loyalty of Trump’s supporters, which has boosted both its stock price and his net worth.
As Trump prepares to assume office, the Trump meme coin represents yet another example of his ability to merge personal branding with unconventional ventures, sparking both enthusiasm and controversy.
来源：钛媒体APP