Trump, Zanker Launch Crypto-Based Real Estate Game

Donald Trump, the former US president, is reportedly collaborating with his long-time associate Bill Zanker to develop a crypto-based video game inspired by the classic board game Monopoly. The game is described as a digital real estate simulation where users can move across a virtual board, build structures, and earn in-game currency, similar to the mechanics of "Monopoly Go." The initiative aims to integrate real estate gaming elements with blockchain infrastructure, although specific technical details about token integration or smart contract use have not been disclosed.

Kevin Mercuri, a spokesperson for Zanker, denied any similarities with "Monopoly Go" but confirmed that Zanker is working on a game scheduled for launch later this month. He also dismissed any association with Monopoly as "hearsay." A representative for Hasbro, the publisher of Monopoly, stated that the company has not licensed its intellectual property to any Trump-affiliated crypto project. In 1989, Trump released "Trump: The Game," a real estate-themed board game with mechanics similar to Monopoly. According to one source, Zanker contacted Hasbro in May 2024 to explore reacquiring rights to that title but was told the company no longer held them. Both sources confirmed that the new crypto game has been in development since before Trump’s inauguration.

Zanker has been instrumental in the Trump family’s foray into digital assets, starting with the launch of a series of Trump-themed non-fungible tokens (NFTs). These included illustrations of Trump as various characters, such as a superhero and an astronaut. Zanker is also connected to the formation of “FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT LLC,” an entity associated with the Trump-branded memecoin (TRUMP), and was instrumental in bringing those digital collectibles to market. The upcoming crypto game is part of a broader set of blockchain initiatives supported by Trump and his family, including a stablecoin effort, a DeFi venture called World Liberty Financial, and an investment in the Bitcoin (BTC) mining company Hut 8 from Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.

Public filings show that DTTM Operations, the entity responsible for Trump’s trademarks, has also applied to extend Trump’s name to various virtual products and NFT-related services. Mercuri declined to comment on the game’s timeline or whether these trademark applications are directly related to the project. He also did not confirm how blockchain functionality would be integrated into the gameplay. The report did not include any public disclosures from Trump himself regarding the new venture.