Trump memecoin made $172M for crypto exchanges

In just six months, the Official Trump (TRUMP) memecoin, linked to former U.S. President Donald Trump, has raked in over $172 million in trading fees for 10 major crypto exchanges, including Binance, Coinbase, OKX, and others, according to a Reuters report.

Despite the coin’s controversial structure—80% of its supply controlled by Trump’s family and close partners—leading exchanges fast-tracked its listing. TRUMP was listed in just four days on average, compared to the usual 129 days for similar memecoins like PEPE, BONK, and WIF. In an even more surprising move, Coinbase listed the coin in just one day, citing "overwhelming demand" and labeling it an “experimental token” to warn users of potential volatility.

Huge Gains for a Few, Huge Losses for Many

While a select 45 wallets made approximately $1.2 billion in profits, over 712,000 users collectively lost at least $4.3 billion, underscoring growing concerns around memecoin volatility and market manipulation.

Despite red flags about centralized holdings, some exchanges like MEXC and Bitget admitted prioritizing user demand over traditional risk filters. Bitget CEO Gracy Chen stated, “Eighty percent held by the team, even with a lock-up period, is risky. but user demand overrode the risky factor.”

Regulatory Scrutiny and Selective Access

In the U.S., Coinbase restricted access for New York residents, citing a New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) warning that flagged memecoins as “sentiment-based virtual currencies” prone to market manipulation, wash trading, and pump-and-dump schemes.

These insights come shortly after a Financial Times report revealed that TRUMP’s team may have earned over $314 million from token sales and an additional $36 million in Solana fees within the first three months of launch.

Source: Tradingview

Voice of Osiz

The rapid rise of the TRUMP memecoin and the speed with which major exchanges listed it — despite clear red flags like extreme supply concentration — reveals a troubling shift in crypto priorities. Exchanges prioritized hype over due diligence, while millions of users faced massive losses. Memecoins may thrive on sentiment, but long-term trust in the crypto space hinges on responsible innovation. Our focus remains on building secure, compliant, and utility-driven blockchain solutions that protect users while advancing the ecosystem.