Truth Social Users Mint Money with CRO Rewards in Bold Trump Media Gamble

Trump Media and Technology Group (DJT) has introduced a new feature on its social media platform, Truth Social, offering users rewards in the form of Crypto.com’s native token, Cronos (CRO). The initiative is part of a broader strategic collaboration between Trump Media and the Nasdaq-listed cryptocurrency exchange. Users who subscribe to Truth Social’s paid tier, known as the Patriot Package, will now earn “Truth gems” through engagement activities, which can be redeemed into CRO tokens and stored in a Crypto.com wallet. This move aims to boost platform engagement by providing users with a tangible, tradable reward for their participation.

The integration of CRO into Truth Social is the result of a growing partnership between the two companies, which began with a $105 million token purchase agreement earlier in the year. Under the terms of this deal, Trump Media acquired 684.4 million CRO tokens—approximately 2% of the circulating supply—through a combination of cash and stock. The tokens are being held in a custody service provided by Crypto.com and staked to generate additional income. Additionally, Crypto.com has invested $50 million in equity into Trump Media, reinforcing the mutual interest in the success of both platforms.

Trump Media has also established a new entity, Trump Media Group CRO Strategy, which is exploring the possibility of acquiring up to 19% of the circulating CRO supply through a planned SPAC merger. This initiative aims to create a digital asset treasury focused on accumulating and managing CRO tokens. The broader partnership between Trump Media and Crypto.com extends beyond token rewards, as the companies are also working on the development of digital asset ETFs through Trump Media’s financial services arm, Truth.Fi. These ETFs are expected to track a curated basket of “Made in America” digital assets and are slated for a 2025 launch, subject to regulatory approval.

Despite the high-profile partnership and the significant token purchase, CRO’s price has not responded strongly to the news. Earlier in the year, the token experienced a 40% surge following initial reports of the collaboration, but it has since fallen back into a downtrend. At the time of the latest announcement, CRO was trading at $0.25, a 0.4% increase over the past 24 hours. The lack of a significant price reaction may reflect broader market uncertainty or the fact that the integration of CRO into Truth Social is still in its early stages.

Crypto.com CEO Kris Marszalek has stated that the partnership represents a step forward in the broader adoption of CRO as a utility token for payments and transfers, while Trump Media chairman Devin Nunes described it as a versatile tool for engaging users. The decision to use CRO rather than developing a proprietary token marks a shift from earlier plans that had included the launch of a native digital wallet and token system. Instead, Trump Media has opted for a more immediate and interoperable solution by leveraging the existing infrastructure of the CRO token, which has been integrated into the platform’s infrastructure and premium offerings.

Trump Media’s continued expansion into the digital asset space is also reflected in its broader financial strategy, which includes plans to offer multiple crypto-focused ETFs and managed investment products. The company also reported holding $2 billion in bitcoin as of its second-quarter financial report. These developments signal a growing commitment to integrating blockchain technology and digital assets into its business model, with the aim of positioning itself at the intersection of social media, finance, and crypto innovation.