A massive token transfer by the team behind the TRUMP meme coin has reignited concerns about transparency, insider profits, and whether retail investors are being left behind.
On May 10, blockchain analysts spotted 3.5 million TRUMP tokens—worth over $52 million—flowing into centralized exchanges including Binance, OKX, and Bybit. The largest portion landed on Binance, with $22 million worth of tokens, while OKX and Bybit received $15 million and $7.5 million respectively.
The team behind the politically themed coin claimed the move was part of “liquidity operations,” saying the tokens came from a wallet set aside at launch for market support. They also stated that any newly unlocked tokens had been re-locked for another 90 days to ensure market stability. But critics are skeptical.
New data suggests the TRUMP project has been disproportionately profitable for a small group of early participants. According to Chainalysis, while around 760,000 wallets are currently underwater, just 58 wallets have each pocketed over $10 million in profits—collectively earning over $1.1 billion. Meanwhile, the creators have reportedly made over $320 million in trading fees.
Though the token’s creators insist the recent transfers are routine, the sheer scale of insider gains and the uneven outcomes for everyday holders raise serious questions about who really benefits from the meme coin frenzy.
