TLDR:
- Trump’s meme coin ($Trump) generated between $86-100 million in trading fees within two weeks of launch, according to blockchain analysis firms
- The coin reached a peak market value of $14.5 billion before dropping by two-thirds
- Around 200,000 small traders lost money while 50 large investors made over $10 million each
- The coin’s ownership structure involves multiple entities including Trump’s CIC Digital and opaque LLCs
- Up to 1 billion $Trump coins will be released over 36 months, with 800 million currently worth about $16 billion
President Donald Trump’s meme coin has generated nearly $100 million in trading fees within its first two weeks of launch, according to estimates from multiple blockchain analysis firms. The digital token, known as $Trump, was introduced on January 17, 2025, and quickly became one of the most talked-about cryptocurrencies in the market.
The coin’s journey began with an explosive start, reaching a peak market value of over $14.5 billion by January 19, the day before Trump’s inauguration. However, the momentum didn’t last, and the value has since decreased by approximately two-thirds, affecting many investors in the process.
Three prominent blockchain analysis firms, including Merkle Science and Chainalysis, conducted detailed examinations of the publicly available blockchain ledger. Their findings revealed that the $Trump token had accumulated between $86 million and $100 million in trading fees by January 30, substantially more than previous reports had indicated.

TRUMP Price
The trading activity has created a stark contrast between winners and losers. While at least fifty of the largest investors in the coin have earned profits exceeding $10 million each, approximately 200,000 crypto wallets, predominantly belonging to small traders, have experienced losses on the Meteora exchange where the coins were initially sold.
The ownership structure of the meme coin involves several entities, with CIC Digital, a company owned by Trump, being one of the primary stakeholders. According to the official $Trump website, CIC Digital receives revenue from the coin’s trading activities, though the exact distribution of these fees remains unclear.
The operation involves other entities as well, including Fight Fight Fight, a Delaware-registered company that owns the official website for the coin, gettrumpmemes.com. This company is linked to William Zanker, a Trump business associate with previous experience in digital assets collaboration.
The coin’s creators have implemented a structured release plan, announcing that up to 1 billion $Trump coins will be made available over the next 36 months. Initially, 200 million coins were released to the market through three crypto wallets. The remaining 800 million coins, currently valued at around $16 billion at a price of about $20 per coin, are owned by Fight Fight Fight and CIC Digital.
The trading mechanism operates through Meteora, a decentralized finance exchange that enables creators to “mint a meme coin and earn fees for life.” The platform implements variable fee structures, including “surge pricing” during periods of high market volatility.
Eric Trump, speaking on behalf of the Trump Organization, expressed pride in their cryptocurrency achievements, stating that
“$Trump is currently the hottest digital meme on earth” and indicating that they are “just getting started.”
The meme coin’s stated purpose is to show support for the president’s “fight, fight, fight” message, referencing events following an attempt on his life at a campaign rally last year. However, the combination of large financial returns and unclear ownership structures has drawn attention from various quarters.
The exact ownership details remain hidden behind limited liability companies. Fight Fight Fight is jointly owned by Trump’s CIC Digital and another entity called Celebration Cards, though the individuals behind the latter company could not be identified.
Blockchain analysis reveals that the three initial crypto wallets received their tokens directly from the creators without purchasing them. These wallets then began trading on the Meteora exchange, where they earn fees by providing liquidity for other traders.
Meteora’s co-founder, Ben Chow, has maintained distance from the project, stating in a Telegram chat that he had no knowledge about the team behind the Trump token. His co-founder, known only as Meow, reportedly handled the initial contact with the token’s team.
The White House has responded to inquiries about the trading fees with a fact sheet about Trump’s executive order on digital financial technology, without addressing specific questions about the fees themselves.
By January 30, 2025, blockchain analytics firms estimated that the three wallets had earned between $86 million and $100 million in trading fees through their activities on Meteora, marking one of the fastest accumulations of trading revenue in recent cryptocurrency history.
Stay Ahead of the Market with Benzinga Pro!
Want to trade like a pro? Benzinga Pro gives you the edge you need in today's fast-paced markets. Get real-time news, exclusive insights, and powerful tools trusted by professional traders:
- Breaking market-moving stories before they hit mainstream media
- Live audio squawk for hands-free market updates
- Advanced stock scanner to spot promising trades
- Expert trade ideas and on-demand support