President Donald Trump is hosting two cryptocurrency-themed dinners this month to bolster his campaign funds.
The first is a high-stakes fundraiser for wealthy political donors, while the second targets meme coin investors, both expected to generate significant revenue.
On May 5, the “Crypto & AI Innovators Dinner,” hosted by MAGA Inc., will charge $1.5 million per plate, making it one of the priciest political dinners ever.
Tech entrepreneur David Sacks, a key figure in shaping U.S. crypto and AI policies, will be a special guest.
The second event, set for May 22 at Trump National near Washington, D.C., is exclusive to holders of the $TRUMP meme token.
Entry is determined through a blockchain-based contest run by the token’s creators, with the top 220 token holders securing a seat at the dinner.
According to CNBC, the contest, closing on May 12, also offers the top 25 holders a “VIP White House Tour” and a special reception. A leaderboard on the contest website tracks the largest token holders.
Accountable.US, a progressive watchdog group, has criticized the contest as an unprecedented scheme for self-enrichment, arguing it allows affluent donors—including potential foreign entities—to purchase influence with the president while benefiting the Trump family.
The contest’s terms note that Trump’s attendance is not guaranteed, and the event may be canceled for any reason, with participants receiving a Trump NFT as a substitute.
The announcement of the dinner has driven a surge in $TRUMP token demand, with its value rising over 50%, enriching early investors and insiders.
The Trump Organization and affiliates control approximately 80% of the token supply, per the project’s website.
Chainalysis reports that trading fees, funneled to wallets linked to the token’s creators, have exceeded $324 million since the token’s January launch. Insiders have committed to holding their tokens for at least 90 more days, according to public disclosures.