TRUMP memecoin gains real-world use in Trump stores

TRUMP and MELANIA memecoins, originally launched as collectibles before the inauguration, are now being accepted as payment methods in Trump-branded product stores and other websites, the Block reported.

The tokens, which were introduced on January 17, are now attempting to demonstrate real-world utility beyond their initial collectible status.

Two websites, GetTrumpFragrances.com and GetTrumpSneakers.com, which operate under license from CIC Ventures and are associated with President Donald Trump, have begun accepting the TRUMP and MELANIA memecoins. These sites, in addition to offering bitcoin and credit card payment options, advertise TRUMP as a payment method via Solana Pay. This integration also permits transactions with a variety of other Solana-based tokens, including SOL and USDC, and other memecoins such as BONK and WIF. However, another Trump-branded store, GetTrumpWatches.com, continues to accept only bitcoin and fiat currencies.

In addition to these Trump-branded stores, the crypto-native travel bookings platform Travala has also integrated TRUMP token payments, alongside over 60 other cryptocurrencies. Travala announced that customers can now use TRUMP to book hotels, flights, and activities worldwide. This move aims to attract a new wave of cryptocurrency adopters.

The launch of the TRUMP memecoin was a high-profile and controversial event, occurring at the Crypto Ball (NYSE:BALL) in Washington on the Friday night before President Trump’s inauguration. The token’s launch spurred a flurry of trading activity, pushing the fully diluted valuation of TRUMP to over $75 billion at one point, surpassing even the largest memecoin, DOGE. However, the subsequent release of the MELANIA memecoin resulted in a 50% correction in the value of the TRUMP token. MELANIA reached a peak valuation of approximately $13 billion before its value also declined.

Currently, the TRUMP token is trading at $27.41 with a market cap of $5.5 billion, while MELANIA is priced at $2.25 with a market cap of $338 million, as per data from The Block’s Prices Page. Kraken Global Head of Institutional Tim Ogilvie remarked that the period around the inauguration and the memecoin’s launch was one of the most active in the exchange’s history.

Despite the activity surrounding the memecoin, President Trump has indicated a lack of involvement, stating in a press conference, "I don’t know much about it other than I launched it. I heard it was very successful. I haven’t checked."

Analysts at Bernstein earlier this month described the official launch of Trump’s memecoin as a "paradigm shift," suggesting a new regulatory era where crypto is seen as a technology to directly engage with the masses.

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