Trump Ventures into Cryptocurrency with New Game Project

Donald Trump is launching a digital asset game similar to MONOPOLY GO!, developed by Bill Zanker, following a shift in Trump’s attitude towards cryptocurrency. The project aims for an April release and reflects Trump’s increasing involvement in the crypto space. However, Web3 gaming faces challenges with declining user engagement and investment due to macroeconomic influences.

Former President Donald Trump is set to enhance his involvement in cryptocurrency through a new project that merges gaming with digital assets. Advertised to launch in late April, the game will bear similarities to MONOPOLY GO!, where participants navigate a game board to earn funds for building a digital city.

Bill Zanker, a key associate of Trump and instrumental in launching his memecoin and NFT collections, is reportedly overseeing the game’s development. While Zanker’s spokesperson dismissed any resemblance to Monopoly, they confirmed his engagement in the game project.

The traditional board game Monopoly is owned by Hasbro, which bought Parker Brothers in 1991. Sources indicate that Zanker sought a licensing agreement from Hasbro for a Trump-themed Monopoly game in May 2024, with details shielded due to the ongoing discussions.

Once sceptical of cryptocurrency, Trump has recently embraced digital assets during his 2024 presidential campaign. His ventures now encompass the Official Trump (TRUMP) memecoin, valued at $1.5 billion, a variety of NFT projects, and a DeFi initiative known as World Liberty Financial.

Additionally, in February, Trump’s DTTM Operations filed trademark requests for a Trump-themed metaverse and NFT marketplace, enabling users to purchase both physical and virtual products, alongside various transport options.

This shift in Trump’s attitude towards cryptocurrency is notable; he previously labelled Bitcoin a “scam against the dollar” in 2021. However, he has since pivoted to attract crypto supporters and has enacted an executive order to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve in the US.

Despite these promising ventures, Trump’s new gaming project may face difficulties in gaining traction. A DappRadar report from April 10 noted a 6% decline in daily active users for Web3 games in the first quarter of 2025, alongside a drastic 71% fall in sector investments to $91 million due to the prevailing macroeconomic challenges, including trade disputes and geopolitical issues. Hence, investor sentiment remains markedly cautious in this climate.