Where Presidential Power Meets Digital Finance: A Constitutional Crisis in the Making?

In an unprecedented move that has sent shockwaves through both political and financial circles, President-elect Donald Trump launched the $TRUMP cryptocurrency just four days before his second inauguration.

Four days before his second inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump unveiled a cryptocurrency called $TRUMP, sparking both excitement and legal scrutiny in equal measure.

Designed to capitalize on the personality-driven online trend, the meme coin quickly tripled in value from $20 to $70 per token within 48 hours. Fueled by curiosity and FOMO, the coin notched up an impressive trading volume of over $24 billion, driving its market capitalization to a staggering $14 billion.

While crypto enthusiasts hailed the launch as a watershed moment for digital assets, a closer examination reveals deeper implications at the intersection of presidential power, securities law, and market integrity. At stake is not just the future of cryptocurrency regulation, but fundamental questions about the boundaries between political office and private enterprise in the digital age.

A screenshot of the GetTrump coin from the homepage.

Enter the Howey Test

The structure of the $TRUMP meme coin, with 80% ownership concentrated in Trump-owned CIC Digital LLC, raises critical questions under the well-known Howey Test, the Supreme Court’s landmark decision for determining whether an asset constitutes a security. Despite the disclaimer attempting to characterize the tokens as "expressions of support" rather than securities, several factors suggest potential classification as a security:

The disclaimer's attempt to characterize the token as "not intended to be... an investment opportunity" appears insufficient given the substance-over-form approach consistently applied by courts and regulators to crypto assets.

Moreover, the structure of the $TRUMP token raises additional red flags:

In a message posted on his Truth Social platform and X, Trump unveiled the so-called meme coin, which is designed to capitalize on the popularity of a certain personality, movement or viral internet trend.

The SEC has repeatedly emphasized that labels like "meme coin" or "expression of support" do not override the economic realities of an investment scheme.

Regulatory Oversight Concerns

The imminent leadership transition at the SEC heralds a potential shift in cryptocurrency regulation, as Paul Atkins' nomination as SEC Chair, replacing Gary Gensler, suggests a markedly different regulatory approach. Atkins, as co-chair of the Digital Chamber's Token Alliance since 2017 and known for his advocacy of lighter-touch regulation during his previous SEC tenure (2002-2008), represents a stark departure from Gensler's stringent oversight.

However, the fundamental legal principles remain unchanged and personality and policy preferences at the SEC's helm cannot override established securities law.

The Supreme Court's Howey Test, a cornerstone of securities regulation for over 75 years, transcends individual administrations and political appointments. While the SEC's enforcement priorities may evolve under new leadership, its statutory obligation to apply the Howey Test remains absolute. This enduring framework for evaluating investment schemes operates independently of any chair's crypto-friendly stance or industry connections.

The challenge for Atkins' SEC will be balancing industry innovation with investor protection. Despite his background suggesting a more accommodating approach to crypto, the Commission must fulfill its mandate to enforce securities laws based on economic substance rather than form. This tension becomes particularly acute in cases like the $TRUMP token, where political connections and market enthusiasm cannot exempt the offering from fundamental securities law analysis.

Business and Politics Collide

The launch of $TRUMP coin represents more than just another addition to Trump's merchandise empire – it signifies an unprecedented escalation in the mingling of political power and private enterprise. Unlike traditional merchandise such as Trump-branded perfumes, watches (priced up to $100,000), or even his $11,500 signed guitars, this cryptocurrency venture creates direct financial incentives that could influence presidential policy-making.

With reported revenues of $7.2 million from NFTs and $4.6 million from guitar sales already demonstrating the lucrative nature of leveraging political brand for profit, the $TRUMP token raises substantially greater concerns about conflicts of interest.

Two key factors distinguish this venture from previous merchandising efforts.

This progression from selling branded merchandise to launching a cryptocurrency ahead of taking office represents a significant escalation in potential conflicts of interest. While selling Trump-branded products might raise ethical concerns, controlling a financial instrument whose value could be directly affected by presidential policies creates a far more serious conflict between public duty and private gain.

Industry's Divided Response

The launch of $TRUMP has created a division within the cryptocurrency community. While some celebrate it as a watershed moment for mainstream adoption, others see it as a dangerous precedent. The polarization reflects deeper concerns about the intersection of political power and crypto markets:

Politics Meets Crypto: Old Games, New Ledgers

The launch of the $TRUMP meme coin exposes a fundamental tension in contemporary American politics. While Trump positions himself as a champion of the cryptocurrency industry, promising to make America "the crypto capital of the planet," the structure and timing of his own digital token venture suggest a concerning fusion of personal enrichment and political power. The concentration of token ownership in Trump-affiliated