Donald Trump's Crypto Footprint Grows: A Monopoly-Style Game May Be Next

Benzinga · 04/15 16:02

Donald Trump is expanding his crypto footprint with the development of a digital real estate game that sources say resembles a Monopoly-style experience, marking the latest addition to his fast-growing suite of crypto ventures.

What Happened: The upcoming title is reportedly being developed by Trump associate Bill Zanker and aims to launch by late April, Fortune reported, quoting two individuals familiar with the matter.

While a spokesperson for Zanker denied direct similarities to MONOPOLY GO!, they confirmed that a crypto-focused game is in the works.

"He is working on a game," said Kevin Mercuri, adding that any Monopoly comparison was "hearsay."

Hasbro, which owns the Monopoly brand, also said it has not licensed its IP to any Trump-affiliated crypto ventures.

The project follows Trump's growing involvement in digital assets, including NFT collections, a memecoin, the DeFi firm World Liberty Financial, a stablecoin project, and a Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) mining company co-owned by his sons, Eric and Donald Jr.

Sources say Zanker, who helped launch Trump's meme coin Trump (CRYPTO: TRUMP) and NFT line, is also behind this new crypto game, although specific blockchain integrations have not been disclosed.

In May 2024, Zanker reportedly approached Hasbro to reacquire rights to Trump: The Game, a Monopoly-inspired board game released in 1989.

The company no longer held the rights, sources said, and the plan to rebrand or reuse the original title didn't materialize.

Also Read: Stablecoins To Surge To $2 Trillion By 2028, Says Standard Chartered: Here’s What It Means For The Dollar

Recent trademark filings by DTTM Operations, the entity managing Trump's intellectual property, suggest an expanded interest in virtual goods and crypto-related licensing, including NFTs and digital apparel.

However, Zanker's team declined to confirm whether these filings are connected to the upcoming game.

The push into crypto gaming comes as Trump takes a more proactive role in shaping U.S. crypto policy.

He's appointed a dedicated AI and crypto adviser, supported the creation of a national digital asset reserve and backed upcoming legislation.

This has drawn scrutiny over possible conflicts of interest, particularly given the Trump Organization's direct investments in the sector.

What’s NExt: Eric Trump, in a recent interview, defended the family’s crypto involvement. "This is something our family believes," he said. "It's something our family speaks about with our heart and soul."

Zanker, known for founding The Learning Annex and partnering with Trump on a co-authored book about success, reconnected with the former president in recent years to spearhead his digital ventures.

He's also linked to the Trump-themed meme coin project, FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT LLC, as listed on its certificate of formation.

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