TRUMP Token Team Moves $26.65M in SOL Ahead of September 18 Unlock

• A wallet linked to the Official Trump Meme Team transferred 11.01 million SOL, valued at approximately $26.65 million, to exchanges ahead of a major token unlock.
• The transfer coincides with a scheduled vesting release of 28.7 million TRUMP tokens on September 18, representing 2.9% of the total supply.
• On-chain data reveals a consistent pattern of the team moving over $150 million in TRUMP-linked tokens to exchanges since April (moving over $150 million).
• Analysts note that large unlocks typically exert downward pressure on token prices as new supply enters the market.
• The token currently trades near $2.41, reflecting a 96% decline from its January 2025 peak of $73.43.

On-chain investigators have identified a significant movement of funds from wallets associated with the Official Trump Meme Team. A wallet linked to the project transferred 11.01 million SOL, worth approximately $26.65 million, just weeks before a scheduled release of additional TRUMP tokens . This transaction follows a consistent pattern of significant fund movements by the project's team, which has offloaded over $150 million worth of TRUMP-linked tokens onto exchanges since April .

Historical precedents include a $32.8 million transfer to Binance in June and a $3.39 million extraction from liquidity pools in August via complex single-sided liquidity maneuvers . Additionally, a separate wallet previously moved $17 million in TRUMP to Bitgo custody, raising questions regarding active management of the team's remaining allocation . While transfers to exchanges do not guarantee immediate sales, they often suggest holders are preparing to liquidate .

The timing of these transfers is critical due to an upcoming token unlock. A vesting release of 28.7 million TRUMP tokens, representing 2.9% of the total supply, is scheduled for September 18 . This event is one of 34 planned unlocks designed to gradually release approximately 80% of the total supply that was withheld at launch, with the schedule extending through December 2027 . Large unlocks typically exert downward pressure on token prices as new supply enters the market .

How have team wallets managed liquidity ahead of the unlock?

Recent on-chain data reveals sophisticated liquidity management strategies employed by the team. The Official Trump (TRUMP) token experienced a decline exceeding 8% within a 24-hour period, settling near $2.27 following on-chain movements from wallets associated with the project team. Blockchain analytics identified that these wallets withdrew $3.39 million in USDC over a 10-hour timeframe on the Solana network . Instead of straightforward market transactions, the wallets deployed liquidity positions, introducing TRUMP tokens into specific price ranges that automatically converted to USDC as traders executed orders .

Additional on-chain data revealed approximately 646,000 TRUMP tokens moving to the OKX exchange, alongside a separate movement of 2.62 million tokens valued at roughly $6.2 million . While exchange deposits do not definitively indicate immediate sales, they contributed to heightened supply-side concerns . The asset declined from $2.46 to an intraday low of $2.16 before recovering slightly . Despite the daily retreat, TRUMP maintains a 61% increase over the past week, climbing from approximately $1.40 .

Technical analysts note that the token breached bear market resistance at $2.055, registering a 160% surge from its recent low in just 10 days . Trading data shows TRUMP holding above its 20-day, 50-day, and 100-day EMAs, with the 200-day EMA at $2.71 acting as primary resistance . The Stochastic RSI indicates a bearish crossover, suggesting weakening momentum .

What risks do investors face with the upcoming vesting schedule?

The market's response to the upcoming release will indicate whether demand remains strong enough to absorb the new supply without significant disruption . Research from Public Citizen indicates that approximately 1 million wallets hold unrealized losses totaling $3.2 billion, while the top 1% of holders secured roughly $2.7 billion in realized profits . This divergence highlights the concentration of gains among early participants and the substantial paper losses faced by retail investors .

The token's performance has diverged sharply from Bitcoin's, trading around $2.41, approximately 97% below its peak of $73.43 reached shortly after its January 2025 launch . This decline aligns with broader patterns among political meme coins, which typically experience their largest gains during initial speculation periods . The team’s behavior of moving assets ahead of these pressure points suggests a strategy to manage liquidity before the influx of unlocked tokens impacts market dynamics .

Furthermore, the official realtrumpcoins account has issued a statement denying any claims that Trump Coins is issuing, promoting, or authorizing a digital token (denies Trump Coins token issuance). The account attributed these allegations to third-party malicious activity and explicitly stated that no such token has ever been authorized, nor will one be in the future . According to reports, the account is actively working with relevant law enforcement agencies to investigate the matter and hold those responsible accountable .

This legal engagement underscores the seriousness of the unauthorized claims circulating in the market . The report also highlighted the history of the realtrumpcoins account, which has previously launched the $GOLD token and attracted attention from U.S. President Donald Trump . Notably, the team behind the account holds 82.45% of the $GOLD token supply, a concentration of ownership that may influence market dynamics and investor perception of future projects associated with the brand .

Meanwhile, Binance has listed a tokenized version of Trump Media & Technology Group stock (DJTB) as a bStock and made it eligible as margin collateral for VIP 3 users and above. The token is issued by a Binance affiliate under ADGM rules, allowing leveraged exposure without direct ownership of the underlying Nasdaq-listed shares . This listing follows a documented history between Binance and the Trump family, including the pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao by Trump in October 2025 .