In a head-scratching twist, at least 17 savvy crypto bidders have managed to earn exclusive dinner invitations with former President Trump, all while their digital wallets flaunted a shocking balance of zero $TRUMP coins!

Dubbed the "world's most EXCLUSIVE INVITATION," this high-stakes contest was designed to reward the top cryptocurrency investors who purchased the family’s infamous memecoin, $TRUMP. However, the selection process revealed a loophole that savvy players exploited, allowing them to cash in without holding onto their coins at the finish line.

Typically, memecoins thrive on internet humor and whimsy, but this contest took a serious turn. The winners were determined by their average coin holdings throughout the contest rather than their final count. As a result, many engineered their game plan to sell off or transfer their tokens just before the final results were tallied.

As expected, the price of $TRUMP tumbled by 6.5% immediately following the announcement of the contest winners, just as many had predicted. Around 20 participants had already shed their $TRUMP assets, deftly riding the price surge generated by the contest's buzz and still securing a dinner seat at the Trump National Golf Club come May 22.

Trump himself, who personally oversees a whopping 800 million $TRUMP coins, had anticipated a much different outcome. With plans to maintain high coin values, Trump actively pushed buyers to snap up coins and hold onto them for greater potential profit.

The fever around the contest ignited after its announcement on April 23, leading to an unprecedented flurry of trading. Investors were not just vying for a dinner with Trump but also hoping to leverage that connection to influence favorable policies for the crypto industry.

One particularly bold investor, known by the alias "Noah," splurged an astounding $2.2 million on $TRUMP coins shortly before the contest kicked off, later selling his holdings for a whopping profit of $957,779.25. Yet, due to his substantial early investments, he effortlessly secured a coveted spot on the leaderboard.

However, the contest has not been without controversy. Critics from both sides of the political aisle have lambasted Trump for what they call a blatant moneymaking scheme, with allegations of selling government access for personal gain. Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon labeled the contest a disconcerting example of political grift and has introduced legislation aimed at restricting such practices among top officials.

In aggregate, winners collectively held $182 million in $TRUMP coins when the contest wrapped, but had initially spent a staggering $191 million—leading to significant losses among participants. With analysts reporting total losses hitting $3.9 billion across all $TRUMP buyers since its inception, the scenario raises serious questions about the coin's viability.

Despite the negative spiral, the Trump family and its partners flourish with transaction fees, raking in estimated revenues of at least $320 million since the token’s launch.

In a last-ditch effort to stabilize the coin's value amidst a looming exodus of dinner guests selling their assets, organizers have unveiled incentives to retain holdings such as a "TRUMP DIAMOND HAND" NFT and mysterious "rewards points" for loyal supporters. As prices cautiously creep back up, one thing is certain: this rollercoaster of a contest has captivated both crypto enthusiasts and political commentators alike!