Donald Trump, the former U.S. President, has expanded his foray into the digital asset market with the launch of a new series of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), dubbed the “Mugshot Edition.” This latest initiative offers a unique blend of digital and physical collectibles, intertwining cryptocurrency with political memorabilia.
Priced at $99 each, these NFTs are not just digital assets but also gateways to exclusive experiences. Buyers purchasing 47 cards in a single transaction, totaling $4,653, are offered a unique opportunity. They are promised a dinner with Trump, along with a physical trading card that includes a piece of the suit he wore during his mugshot in Georgia.
The “Mugshot Edition” follows Trump’s previous NFT drops, which included Zoom calls and gala dinner invitations. The suit, worn during his indictment in August, is being marketed as a historically significant artifact. For those using cryptocurrency to acquire 100 cards, extra bonuses are provided. These include a pre-gala cocktail reception with Trump and a physical card featuring a piece of his tie from the mugshot.
The trading volume for Trump’s first digital trading card collection, released in December 2022, witnessed a notable increase of over 200% in the last 24 hours following the announcement of the new edition. However, the total volume remained below $100,000, according to OpenSea, a leading marketplace for NFTs.
This venture is managed by NFT INT LLC, which operates under a paid license from CIC Digital LLC for the use of Trump’s name and image. Trump has been previously listed as a key figure in CIC Digital LLC, with disclosures revealing his ownership of up to $5 million in ether and earnings from NFT licensing fees exceeding $4.9 million. His 2022 financial disclosure highlighted significant income from NFTs, with his first collection of digital trading cards selling out rapidly.
The sale of pieces from his mugshot suit, as part of the NFT offering, has proven lucrative, with Politico reporting sales of $7.1 million shortly after the release of his booking photo in August. The digital trading cards, sold on CollectTrumpCards.com, are marketed as historical collectibles, symbolizing Trump’s resilience and commitment. Meanwhile, in the NFT sector, Sotheby’s recently conducted its first-ever sale of “inscriptions” created using the Bitcoin blockchain’s Ordinals protocol. This event, featuring a collection known as “BitcoinShrooms,” drew approximately $450,000, far exceeding the highest estimates. The auction included a pixelated avocado fetching over $100,000 and a Super Mario-style mushroom character selling for more than $240,000.
