Trump’s Crypto Gala Sparks Backlash as Guest List Raises Transparency Concerns

A private crypto dinner hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump for the top 220 holders of his official meme coin (TRUMP) has ignited controversy in Washington and across the crypto community, with growing calls for transparency over the guest list and possible foreign influence.

The event, scheduled for Thursday, has drawn political criticism from watchdog organizations and members of Congress, including Senators Elizabeth Warren and Adam Schiff, who previously demanded a formal investigation into the nature of the gathering and its implications for U.S. national security.

On Thursday, a press conference led by four U.S. lawmakers and advocacy groups—including Public Citizen, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, and End Citizens United—will demand full disclosure of the attendee list and clarity on “what favors they’re getting.”

How It Works: Crypto as a Ticket to Power

To secure an invitation, participants had to register their Solana wallet and other personal details on the official GetTrumpMemes website. Eligibility was determined by a time-weighted average of TRUMP token holdings between April 23 and May 12.

The top 25 token holders were also granted access to a more exclusive VIP reception.

While most of the guest list remains unknown due to blockchain pseudonymity, several prominent figures have publicly confirmed their attendance.

Who’s Attending the Trump Crypto Dinner?

• Justin Sun, founder of the Tron blockchain and investor in Trump-linked World Liberty Financial, tops the leaderboard with $22 million in TRUMP holdings. Sun reportedly landed in the U.S. on Monday and has made high-profile visits to SpaceX and Worldcoin facilities ahead of the event.
• MemeCore, a meme-centric layer-1 blockchain, comes second with $20.3 million in TRUMP, accumulated during a community campaign dubbed “Operation SUN of a B**ch” aimed at outpacing Justin Sun.
• EV, a pseudonymous celebrity meme coin launcher known for ties to tokens linked with Busta Rhymes and Diddy, ranks 12th. He has admitted to trading on inside information related to the dinner.
• Ogle, a masked advisor to World Liberty Financial and founder of Glue Network, ranks 22nd and plans to attend incognito, removing the mask once inside the venue, which will not permit cameras or press.
• Lamar Odom, former NBA star, confirmed his attendance via Instagram. He is promoting an upcoming meme coin, ODOM, focused on addiction recovery.
• Vincent Liu, CIO of market maker Kronos Research, and Vincent Deriu, a senior analyst at Ernst & Young, are also confirmed. Both clarified they are attending in a personal capacity.
• Kain Warwick, founder of Synthetix and Infinex, said he is attending in hopes of speaking with Trump or his son Eric.
• Morten Christensen, founder of AirdropAlert, says he gamed the system by buying TRUMP and shorting the same amount to avoid price exposure, securing a spot for just $1,200.
• Other names include ZielonoMi, a Polish crypto influencer, and Nicholas Pinto, a 25-year-old entrepreneur who once made headlines for building a scooter startup at age 13.

Despite efforts to crowdsource names, fewer than 10% of the 220 attendees have been publicly identified. This has raised alarms about potential anonymous foreign backers gaining direct access to the U.S. president through a meme coin-based pay-to-play system.

Political Fallout and Growing Scrutiny

With ongoing investigations into Trump’s crypto ventures, including World Liberty Financial, and allegations of international enrichment schemes, this dinner is being viewed as a flashpoint for deeper concerns around crypto’s intersection with politics.

Senator Richard Blumenthal previously criticized the Trump family’s crypto dealings, saying they allow “foreign governments and others to enrich and compromise the president.”

As crypto continues to gain traction in political fundraising, this event may force regulators and voters alike to ask a more pressing question: What does transparency mean in a pseudonymous financial system?

Editorial Note: This news article has been written with assistance from AI. Edited & fact-checked by the Editorial Team.

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