From Cointelegraph

May 23, 2025 10:52 am:

The top 220 holders of US President Donald Trump’s memecoin met at his golf course for an exclusive dinner, spending $148 million for a VIP reception. Concerns arose over foreign influence and corruption, as the White House declined to release the guest list. Attendees included controversial figures like Justin Sun, Lamar Odom, and Kain Warwick.

Justin Sun, the largest TRUMP token holder, was awarded a special watch at the gala. Sun’s attendance was controversial due to past legal issues with the SEC and recent federal regulatory changes in the crypto space. He expressed interest in shaping blockchain’s future in the US through meaningful conversations in Washington, DC.

Kain Warwick, the founder of iFinex, attended the event to discuss decentralized finance (DeFi) with Trump or his team. Vincent Liu, CIO of Kronos Research, highlighted the unique opportunity for TRUMP token holders to meet the president. Lamar Odom used the event to promote his own memecoin, ODOM, which launched just days before the dinner.

Sangrok Oh, CEO of Hyperithm, was among the top TRUMP holders and hoped to engage directly with Trump on crypto regulation. The event also saw the presence of anonymous crypto traders and entrepreneurs, along with protests outside the venue by US senators and former staffers expressing discontent with the dinner guests. Critics slam a recent event as a prime example of corruption within the Trump administration. Senator Jeff Merkley joins the protest, highlighting concerns about selling influence. Former Treasury official Ken Papaj criticizes the transaction fees involved. The crypto industry seeks friendly regulations from Congress, but Trump’s ties may complicate matters. Senate Democrats target Trump’s crypto businesses with anti-corruption bills and amendments.

Read more at Cointelegraph.com

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