Behind the Hype: Examining the Rise of the Trump Coin

Donald Trump has shaken up politics, business, and now — crypto. In early 2025, Trump Coin ($TRUMP) exploded onto the market, riding a wave of hype and controversy. Within days, it hit billions in market value, drawing in traders, supporters, and skeptics alike. Some saw an opportunity; others smelled a trap.

But behind the buzz, bigger questions remain — who really benefited, and what does it mean for crypto’s future? Let’s discuss.

The birth of Trump coin

Trump coin ($TRUMP) is a meme coin launched on January 17, 2025, on the Solana blockchain. It’s backed by CIC Digital LLC and Fight Fight Fight LLC — both linked to Donald Trump. These groups hold 80% of the supply and plan to release it over time.

Meme coins like this thrive on hype, not utility (although Trump-branded merchandise and some crypto betting sites accept $TRUMP). Think of Dogecoin or Shiba Inu — people trade them for fun or speculation. $TRUMP follows the same playbook, riding on Trump’s name and fanbase. Solana makes transactions cheap and fast, which helps with trading.

But unlike other meme coins, $TRUMP’s price depends not only on crypto market change (big holders control most coins, so when they buy or sell, the price swings), it can fluctuate with every speech, signed bill, or even a social media post of the current U.S. President. So, while it can add more fun for crypto traders who like to gamble on crypto prices, this meme coin is a rollercoaster — exciting for some and costly for others.

Who profits from $TRUMP?

Trump Coin ($TRUMP) took off like a rocket when it launched on January 17, 2025. It started under $10, then shot up to $75.35 by January 19, pushing its market value past $14.5 billion. But just as quickly, the price collapsed, dropping over 50% in days, and by February, it costs around $20. For many small traders, that meant buying high and getting stuck with losses when the hype faded. Meanwhile, a few big investors who sold early walked away with hefty profits.

This kind of rollercoaster isn’t new. Dogecoin and Shiba Inu also saw huge spikes fueled by excitement, only to crash when demand cooled. Unlike traditional investments, meme coins run on speculation — people buy in, hoping others will jump in after them, pushing prices higher. When the momentum stops, prices tumble fast.

Trump coin’s creators didn’t lose a dime in this chaos. Thanks to constant trading, they raked up nearly $100 million in fees within two weeks. Every time someone bought or sold, a cut went to the exchanges and those behind the coin. High trading volume meant more fees, no matter if traders were winning or losing.

In the end, $TRUMP showed the classic meme coin pattern: a massive surge, a brutal drop, and many people left holding the bag — except for those who cashed out early and the ones collecting fees the whole time.

“Is it even allowed?” you might ask. Yes. But is it ethical? That depends on who you ask.

Ethical and regulatory issues

Trump coin has raised a lot of ethical and legal questions, mainly because it’s linked to a sitting president. Some experts worry that foreign investors could buy large amounts of the coin to get on Trump’s good side, which might break U.S. laws against politicians taking money from foreign sources. Others argue that a president benefiting from a cryptocurrency creates a conflict of interest.

Crypto experts aren’t happy about the Trump coin, either. Many see it as just another meme coin designed to make quick money for early investors, while smaller traders take the hit when prices crash. The fact that it gained and lost billions in days only adds to the belief that it was more about hype than actual value. Some also think it damages crypto’s reputation, making it look like a joke instead of a serious financial industry.

However, Trump has promised to make crypto more mainstream. He recently signed an order to support digital assets and blockchain technology. His team is working on new rules that could give crypto more legal backing and maybe even push for a national crypto fund. If Trump actually follows through, it might help clean up the industry’s image and make projects like the Trump coin seem more legitimate.

For now, though, the Trump coin remains highly controversial — both because of who it’s linked to and how it operates.

To conclude

Trump coin came in like a wrecking ball—fast, loud, and impossible to ignore. It made some traders rich, left others with empty wallets, and sparked debates that go way beyond crypto. One thing’s for sure: $TRUMP proved that hype can move markets, politics and crypto are getting cozier, and meme coins aren’t going anywhere. Whether that’s a good or bad thing… well, that’s a gamble in itself.