Top meme coin buyers vying for Trump dinner appear to be overseas

Most of the biggest buyers competing for seats at President Donald Trump's upcoming meme coin dinner appear to be located abroad, a CBS News analysis of blockchain data finds. Of the 100 holders shown on the public leaderboard, at least 52 sent funds through exchanges such as Binance, Bybit and MEXC, which do not serve American customers. Matt Fiebach, co-founder of Entropy Advisors, said analysts usually treat such accounts as likely non-U. S. , though he cautioned that all anyone can know for certain is that a non-U. S. person or entity sent the money. A VPN could mask a user's location, but many exchanges say they try to block that.

The event is scheduled for Nov. 22 at Trump National Golf Club near Washington, with room for the 185 largest $TRUMP holders and Trump as featured speaker. Those 52 accounts hold about $6. 8 million of the leaderboard's $15 million-plus total. Trump reported at least $635 million in royalties from the coin's licensing deal last year, and a Trump Organization affiliate earns money on trades. Democrats and watchdog groups have raised foreign influence concerns. A White House official called it a private event with no promise of government action.

Summarized by PolitiKool from CBS News’s reporting. Read the full story at CBS News →