Gilded Idols and Zeroed Memes: The Absurd Crypto Drama Behind Trump's Giant Statue
A group of cryptocurrency investors spent $300,000 to commission a 15-foot-tall, gold-plated bronze statue of former President Donald Trump, dubbed "Don Colossus," as part of a promotional effort for a meme token called PATRIOT. The statue, intended to honor Trump’s support for cryptocurrency, was planned to be displayed at his Doral golf resort in Florida, with organizers claiming Trump himself expressed interest in attending its unveiling.
However, the project faced multiple setbacks, including delays, internal disputes, and a sharp decline in the value of PATRIOT token—which plummeted over 90% after Trump launched his own official meme coin. The sculptor, Alan Cottrill, accused the investors of using his copyrighted work without fully paying for intellectual property rights, stating they still owed him approximately $90,000.
Despite these issues, promoters continued marketing the token through conservative media and influencers. Although the statue’s base was installed at Trump’s resort, the project’s future remains uncertain after Trump’s son Eric, denied any involvement with the token. The episode highlights the speculative and often chaotic nature of meme coin ventures.
比推02/05 04:31
