More than 200 wealthy crypto buyers attended a dinner with President Donald Trump in Washington on May 22, 2025. The price of admission ranged from $55,000 to $37.7 million, spent on his cryptocurrency token, $TRUMP. The top holders of the $TRUMP coin secured a seat at the dinner.
In total, the winners spent $394 million on Trump's cryptocurrency. The top seven winners each spent over $10 million. The average winner spent $1,788,994.42.
The dinner, held at Trump National Golf Club, was black-tie optional. While the contest website claims Trump was appearing as a guest, 80% of the $TRUMP coin project is owned by Trump-affiliated companies, raising concerns about Trump using his office for personal profit.
Trump's cryptocurrency generates revenue through transaction fees. Chainalysis estimated the $TRUMP coin made nearly $900,000 in fees within two days of the contest announcement. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stated Trump acts in the best interests of the American public.
One top spender was Justin Sun, a crypto entrepreneur. Independent researcher Molly White found that 72% of the winning wallets appear foreign. A New York Times investigation reported participants representing crypto businesses in Singapore and Australia, raising concerns about undue foreign influence.