Bits + Bips: Debate: Is Trump’s Memecoin a Gift or a Grift? - Ep. 769

This week, Trump’s memecoin launch had everyone talking—and scrambling for Phantom wallets. But was it a strategic masterstroke or just another speculative frenzy?
On this episode of Bits + Bips, the hosts unpack the wild moments of the Crypto Ball, where $TRUMP made its surprise debut. They discuss how Bitcoin maxis were forced to embrace Solana wallets, why Multicoin Capital emerged as the biggest winner, and whether the memecoin launch signals a local market top.
Plus, they debate whether Trump’s crypto-friendly stance could shape policy in 2025, why Litecoin might beat Solana to a spot ETF, and what Trump’s inauguration speech reveals about his crypto game plan.
Show highlights:

0:58 What Ram can tell us about his experience at the Crypto Ball

3:39 How Ram was so surprised when the $TRUMP coin dropped in the middle of the event

7:51 What will happen with the 80% of $TRUMP that Trump holds

8:51 Why Ram believes Multicoin Capital was the biggest winner of $TRUMP dropping

10:14 Whether the coin was “gift or grift”

17:07 How the $Melania coin was the Trumps shooting themselves in the foot

19:37 How the launch of the coin is a “major win” for Solana

22:49 Whether ETH can have a comeback as the “TradFi chain”

35:28 How the market would react to the lack of a strategic bitcoin reserve mention

43:28 What executive orders Trump could deliver for the crypto industry

48:47 Alex’s experience with the pump and dump of a fake Barron Trump memecoin

53:41 What was notable from Trump’s inauguration speech

56:28 Whether rate cuts in December were a mistake and whether more are coming

1:05:51 Why James believes that Litecoin has more chances than Solana for a spot ETF

1:08:41 Whether the launch of $TRUMP will mark a local top for the markets

Hosts:

James Seyffart, Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence

Alex Kruger, Founder of Asgard

Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida

Noelle Acheson, Author of the “Crypto Is Macro Now” Newsletter

Links

Saylor’s parody account’s tweet recounted by Alex

Meme recounted by Noelle

Vitalik on changing the EF leadership

Josh Stark’s tweet on how the EF “uses Ethereum”

Paper on DeFi that Alex talked about: Christopher J Waller: Centralized and decentralized finance - substitutes or complements?

Polymarket: Will Trump create Bitcoin reserve in first 100 days?

Unchained:

Trump Appoints Crypto-Friendly Mark Uyeda as Acting SEC Chair

Trump-Backed World Liberty Financial Goes on Token Buying Spree

Trump Picks Pham as Acting CFTC Chair

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