A curious thing happened recently in the digital asset world. Bill Zanker, a name tied closely to President Trump’s ventures into NFTs and memecoins, found himself in a public spat. Reports surfaced that President Trump’s family sent cease-and-desist letters. The issue? An alleged unauthorized crypto wallet using the Trump name.
- The Trump family sent cease-and-desist letters to Bill Zanker regarding an unauthorized crypto wallet using the Trump name.
- Zanker claims the situation is a “big misunderstanding” despite public statements from Eric Trump disavowing the project.
- Zanker is collaborating with Justin Sun of Tron to bring the TRUMP token to the Tron blockchain.
You might think this means Zanker and the Trump family are no longer working together. That’s certainly how it looked from the outside. But Zanker tells a different story. He calls the whole affair a “big misunderstanding.”
A Public Wrangle, A Private Explanation
The news hit hard. Cease-and-desist letters usually signal a serious break. They mean someone believes their name or brand is being misused. In this case, the Trump family reportedly accused Zanker of promoting a crypto wallet tied to the TRUMP token. They said they never gave permission for such a project.
Eric Trump, President Trump’s son, even took to social media. He made it clear the project was not authorized. He warned Magic Eden, a well-known NFT marketplace, to be careful. It was a very public statement, leaving little room for doubt about the family’s position.
This project is not authorized by @Trump. @MagicEden I would be extremely careful using our name in a project that has not been approved and is unknown to anyone in our organization. https://t.co/OovJGvGOkO
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) June 3, 2025
Yet, Zanker maintains things are fine. He spoke with CoinDesk via Telegram, stating, “No dispute, just a big misunderstanding.” He insists he remains in good standing with the family. It makes you wonder how a “misunderstanding” can lead to formal legal warnings.
Zanker offered some proof of continued collaboration. He pointed to a recent announcement from World Liberty Financial. This company stated it would add the TRUMP token to its treasury. For Zanker, this move shows that all parties are still aligned.
“It ended up that World Liberty was in advanced stages of their wallet,” Zanker explained. “We felt it would be best for them to launch with it.” This suggests a shift in plans rather than a full stop. It sounds like a last-minute pivot, a common occurrence in the fast-moving world of digital assets.
It’s a bit like planning a big party, sending out invitations, and then realizing the venue changed. You just hope everyone gets the new address. In this case, the “new address” seems to be World Liberty Financial’s wallet.
The Tron Connection and Future Plans
Beyond the wallet issue, Zanker also spoke highly of Justin Sun. Sun is the founder of Tron, a blockchain platform. Their interview was arranged by Sun’s team, which tells you something about their working relationship. Sun recently announced that the TRUMP token will come to Tron. This will happen using bridging technology, a way to move tokens between different blockchain networks.
Zanker praised Sun’s vision. “Justin’s focus is about building real, usable infrastructure,” he said. He sees Sun as someone who pushes to make blockchain more accessible. This is important for reaching people who aren’t already deep into crypto. It’s about making digital tools useful for a wider audience.
Zanker continued, “He’s incredibly driven, and he listens. He has always pushed to make blockchain technology more accessible to the non-crypto audience TRUMP attracts, and making crypto useful for people around the world. I respect his focus and the results he continues to deliver.” High praise indeed for a figure who often finds himself in the headlines.
But Sun’s path has not been entirely smooth. He faces civil fraud charges from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC claims Sun and Tron engaged in market manipulation. They also allege the issuance of unregistered securities. These are serious accusations, hanging over Sun’s many ventures.
Sun’s attorneys and the SEC have asked a court to pause the case. They want to work on a possible resolution. This is a move the SEC has made in other cases, sometimes leading to dropped charges. The parties have a late-August deadline to provide an update to the court. This legal cloud adds a layer of uncertainty to any project Sun touches.
What Comes Next for TRUMP?
Despite the public disagreement and the ongoing legal issues for key players, Zanker remains optimistic. He promises more to come from the Trump collaborations. He told CoinDesk, “Every day, we’re focused on turning TRUMP into a practical tool for engagement and mainstream adoption.”
He teased upcoming projects. “Stay tuned for a TRUMP Mobile Game coming soon – and many other big things this summer.” A mobile game for a memecoin? It certainly sounds like a play for wider reach. It’s a strategy to bring digital assets into everyday entertainment.
The idea of a memecoin becoming a “practical tool” is an interesting one. Typically, memecoins are known for their community spirit and rapid price swings. They are less about utility. But in the fast-paced world of crypto, definitions can shift quickly. Perhaps a mobile game is a step towards that utility, however unconventional it may seem.
The story of Zanker, President Trump’s digital assets, and Justin Sun is a tangled one. It features public disagreements, claims of misunderstanding, and significant regulatory challenges. Yet, the players involved seem determined to push forward. They aim to expand the reach of these politically themed digital tokens. It leaves us to wonder what “many other big things” might appear before summer ends.