President Trump hosted his second annual $TRUMP memecoin investor conference at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday, marketed as “The Most Exclusive Conference In The World.” But the event proved far more accessible than last year’s controversial dinner at his Virginia golf club — even a New York Times reporter qualified by purchasing $9,000 worth of the cryptocurrency.

The coin’s dramatic decline explains the shift in accessibility. $TRUMP now trades at approximately $2.83, down about 80 percent from last April’s peak. When the memecoin launched in January 2025, the Trump family and its partners collected at least $320 million in transaction fees within the first few months. Last year’s Virginia dinner required a combined $191 million in investment from contestants.

Complications mounted during this year’s contest when organizers extended the deadline by four days, irritating investors who had already qualified. The Times reporter was ultimately denied entry, receiving a terse email: “This is a private event closed to the press.” A lawsuit from crypto billionaire Justin Sun against Trump’s other venture, World Liberty Financial, adds to the mounting scrutiny surrounding the family’s crypto empire.