Who attended Trump’s controversial memecoin dinner?

Donald Trump hosted a private dinner for the top 220 holders of his memecoin, TRUMP, at his Virginia golf course. The event, costing attendees $148 million for an “ultra-exclusive VIP reception,” sparked controversy due to its potential implications for crypto policy and foreign influence. The White House refused to release the attendee list, citing the event’s private nature.

Notable attendees included Justin Sun, founder of Tron, who faced SEC charges for alleged unregistered securities offerings. Sun’s presence, coupled with his post about shaping blockchain’s future in the US, fueled concerns. Kain Warwick, founder of iFinex, attended hoping to discuss decentralized finance (DeFi) with Trump or his team. Vincent Liu, CIO of Kronos Research, documented the event on social media, highlighting the “alpha” potential of the gathering.

Lamar Odom, a former NBA player, leveraged the event to promote his own memecoin, ODOM, which included a staking scheme tied to TRUMP. Sangrok Oh, CEO of Hyperithm, attended with “Make Crypto Great Again” hats, aiming to discuss regulatory progress with Trump. Anonymous attendees included “Ice” from MemeCore, “Ogle” – a cybersecurity advisor to Trump’s World Liberty Financial – and “Cryptoo Bear,” a crypto trader.

Outside the club, protestors, including Senator Jeff Merkley and former Treasury official Ken Papaj, voiced concerns about corruption and the potential for influence peddling. They criticized the event as a blatant example of selling access and influence, undermining the principles of government by and for the people.

The dinner occurred at a critical juncture for US crypto regulation. The industry seeks favorable legislation, but Trump’s involvement complicates matters, given the introduction of anti-corruption bills targeting crypto and politicians. Senate Democrats also targeted the GENIUS Act with amendments addressing Trump’s crypto businesses. The event highlights the intersection of politics, cryptocurrency, and the potential for ethical conflicts within the rapidly evolving digital asset landscape.