Snoop Dogg, Michael Saylor, and the crypto elite at the first crypto ball in history

On Friday, January 17, America held its first-ever crypto ball at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. The crypto event ushered in what industry leaders call the “most pro-crypto administration,” led by the 47th US President, Donald Trump.  

Washington, D.C. kept watch all night on Friday as history was being made at Trump’s inaugural Crypto Ball. The event hosted by his newly appointed AI and Crypto Czar, David Sacks, wasn’t just any gala; it was a four-hour-long spectacle where political elites, the wealthy, and the troops of blockchain technology came together to “Make America Great Again.”

The freebies #cryptoball pic.twitter.com/FGViPM7DhR

— Edward Woodford (@e_woodford) January 18, 2025

“Crypto is big right now…Trump is killing it in the crypto game, and there’s a lot of money to be made there,” said political commentator Rob Smith in a video he posted on X.

Crypto ball was sold out: All eyes on ‘crypto president’  

The who’s who of the crypto world gathered under the auditorium’s towering ceilings, colored by banners of several sponsors like Coinbase’s Stand With Crypto, Kraken, Anchorage Digital, and Exodus.

Attendees were seen downing cocktails, white wine clarets, and nibbling on beef tenderloin sliders on the sides. 

@DavidSacks did not disappoint with this #cryptoball menu pic.twitter.com/PpBzsOfB5n

— Edward Woodford (@e_woodford) January 18, 2025

Michael Saylor, Brian Armstrong, the Winklevoss twins, and Jesse Powell were all present in Tuxedos, mingling with political movers and shakers, including Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson.

Days before the inaugural ball, tickets were sold out at tiers of $2,500 and $5,000, with ultra-exclusive packages that included $100,000 VIP tickets and private dinners priced at $1 million. Even press access was restricted; it wasn’t just a show for anybody to get in.

Attendees were treated to performances by rap legends Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, and Soulja Boy.

HOW TF IS ANYBODY SUPPOSED TO SLEEP?!

This was Solja Boy at the crypto ball dancing like he bought some $trump pic.twitter.com/8x6qCspdOv

— Nick O’Neill (@chooserich) January 18, 2025

Adding to the evening’s extravagance was the surprise launch of Trump Coin, a Solana-based memecoin shared on Trump’s social media accounts on X and Truth Social just hours before the event. 

News of the launch spread like wildfire, and traders flocked to buy in. However, there was a healthy amount of skepticism from the crypto community on X, who speculated that the president-elect’s accounts could have been hacked.

My NEW Official Trump Meme is HERE! It’s time to celebrate everything we stand for: WINNING! Join my very special Trump Community. GET YOUR $TRUMP NOW. Go to https://t.co/GX3ZxT5xyq — Have Fun! pic.twitter.com/flIKYyfBrC

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2025

The posts on Trump’s social media remained live, and crypto enthusiasts like Mario Nawfal confirmed that it wasn’t a scam; the incoming POTUS really did launch a memecoin, and that gradually eased the community’s concerns. 

Early on-chain analysis revealed that the token reached a market cap of $8 billion in just three hours, putting it in the top 20 in market cap rankings.

The incoming President of the United States just launched a meme coin days before his inauguration.

The market cap is almost $8 billion in less than 3 hours, which nearly doubles Trump’s net worth.

Financial markets are not ready for what is ahead — buckle up.

— Anthony Pompliano 🌪 (@APompliano) January 18, 2025

After his inauguration on January 20, Trump is expected to issue his first executive order on crypto as the industry continues to expect his administration to create a more favorable environment for digital currencies in the coming months. 

Non-profit organizations DSA, WLF reveal plans 

During the crypto ball, Tron-affiliated non-profit organization the  Digital Sovereignty Alliance (DSA) released a statement on X unveiling its partnership with the new administration in driving ethical policies that benefit the public. DSA was one of the sponsors of the crypto event.

“We look forward to working with the new administration to foster innovation through ethical policies that prioritize public welfare,” the organization remarked.

Elsewhere, a source close to the Trump family has revealed that World Liberty Financial (WLF) plans to add Tron’s TRX into its reserves. The anonymous source also confirmed that a Tron delegation, led by company founder Justin Sun, is set to attend the president’s inauguration.

The inaugural digital asset ball was a dazzling blend of popularity and ambition; the air was buzzing with talk of blockchain’s future. It was more than just about solidifying crypto as a legitimate, influential force in America. ZeroHash CEO Ed Woodford called the event an “evening with pomp that is an incredible tailwind for us all.”

Whether this marks the beginning of a true crypto renaissance or it’s just another chapter in the industry’s growth, one thing is for certain: Donald Trump is good for crypto.