Summary
- Holders of the Trump meme coin will enjoy benefits through a new "Trump Coin Club," starting with a VIP trip to the World Cup finals.
- Bill Zanker, the club's organizer, mentioned that similar exclusive events will occur at least quarterly.
- Despite a drop in the coin's value, Zanker insisted its connection to the president gives it distinctiveness.
Following a high-profile event at Mar-a-Lago, the team behind President Donald Trump’s meme coin has unveiled a long-term strategy aimed at rewarding its top holders.
Bill Zanker, who has been closely involved with the meme coin initiative since its inception last year, has previously organized two gatherings for the coin's holders, both featuring appearances by Trump. He is now launching a permanent “Trump Coin Club” designed to give top holders access to a regular schedule of exclusive events.
“We want to reward our best holders, and we’re planning many more events in the future,” Zanker told Decrypt. “We want to take care of them.”
The inaugural event for the Trump Coin Club is set for next month during the FIFA World Cup finals. The top 19 holders of the meme coin will receive a complimentary three-day luxury experience, which includes a private suite for viewing the final match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
“Not many people can access these tickets,” Zanker noted. He added that FIFA president Gianni Infantino, a friend of Trump, was not involved in acquiring the suite.
The World Cup experience will offer additional perks, such as lodging at the St. Regis New York, a gala dinner, and VIP entry to a yet-to-be-determined nightclub, which Zanker assured would be among the finest in New York City. Although Trump is anticipated to attend the final, there are no plans for him to meet with meme coin holders during the event.
Attendees will be subject to Secret Service security checks, and Zanker hinted that surprises could arise on the day of the event, saying, “If there's a surprise, there will be a surprise.”
Previous private gatherings between Trump and his meme coin holders have drawn criticism from some lawmakers who argue that the president should disclose the participants and the discussions that take place. During April’s Mar-a-Lago gala, Trump covered topics such as the Iran war in front of an audience that included numerous foreign token holders, attendees reported.
Zanker explained that the top 19 meme coin holders eligible for the World Cup trip “can come from anywhere,” with the exception of countries under OFAC sanctions like Iran and North Korea. All winners will undergo know-your-customer verification, he added.
After the World Cup event, Zanker stated that he intends to host similar gatherings “at least once a quarter” for the top holders of Trump’s meme coin, focusing on “big, international events.”
When asked if the ultimate goal of the Trump Coin Club is to enhance the meme coin’s value, which has dropped over 97% since its peak last January, Zanker deflected. The token, which had a fully diluted valuation of nearly $75 billion on the eve of the president’s second inauguration, is currently valued at around $2 billion.
Zanker expressed a desire for “people to stay with the coin,” a goal he believes can be achieved by consistently offering access to luxurious experiences. For instance, tickets to the World Cup Final are currently priced at no less than $8,000, while a $3,000 investment in Trump’s meme coin could have secured entry to the April Mar-a-Lago event.
A seasoned entrepreneur, Zanker previously managed the president’s branded NFT, shoe, and watch projects, and he is confident that Trump’s token will continue to stand out from other cryptocurrency offerings in the long run.
“We’re not a cartoon,” he asserted. “We’re the biggest brand on Earth.”
While Zanker acknowledged that the token’s strength stems from the endorsement of a prominent political figure, he countered the idea that Trump needs to be more directly involved with the project after leaving office, despite some top holders expressing that hope.
“We're not considering that right now,” Zanker stated. “He's the president of the United States. He's busy.”