- Trump's high-tops are the latest in a long line of crypto merch.
- Wearing a Bitcoin T-shirt got me a lot of free investing 'advice.'
Sometimes, we buy things we know are terrible, like front row seats at a Taylor Swift concert or boxed supermarket wine.
Enter Donald Trump’s latest sneaker collection — an eye-popping pair of shoes that scream crypto chic louder than a blockchain bro at a Bitcoin conference.
In a hue that might be Bitcoin orange but could equally be inspired by the shade of Trump’s spray tan, these $499 high-tops are already reselling for thousands on eBay.
Complete with a US flag, the Bitcoin logo and the words “Trump crypto president” on the side, they are so gaudy that I want them desperately.
If only for the absurdity and potential for social experiments.
Instant magnet
Wearing crypto merch in public has a strange effect. It turns you into an instant magnet for punters who flock to regale you with their tales of trades past.
I know this because I used to have a Bitcoin T-shirt when I lived in London several years ago. Random crypto nerds would strike up conversations when I wore it.
I was high-fived at an underground station in South London. A guy in a kebab shop — who was still buying Luna tokens even after Do Kwon became a fugitive — gave me a free Coke. A personal trainer at the gym, quite unprompted, lectured me for an hour about technical analysis.
Wearing that top was a not-so-secret handshake into the weird world of crypto enthusiasts. To everyone else it was, of course, a social repellent.
Trump is way late to the party. The internet is awash with bizarre crypto merchandise.
‘Diamond Hands bundle’
You can decorate your sofa with cushions printed with the logos of major blockchains. You can buy “physical Bitcoins.” There’s socks and posters, keychains, neon lights, phone cases, silk neckties, stickers and coasters.
For $700, you can buy something called the “Diamond Hands bundle” on Etsy, which is a collection of gold coins stamped to look like different tokens, complete with stands to display them in.
Or perhaps the $150 set of crypto tarot cards? A solid gold bitcoin necklace? A bust of Satoshi? Bedsheets?
And the t-shirts. So many t-shirts...
“Crypto is for virgins.”
“Crypto is freedom.”
“Block Chains Matter.”
“Bitcoin is hope.”
“Kiss me I bought Bitcoin in 2010.”
Even attempts to go mainstream with crypto fashion have had their moments.
Remember when NFTs were a thing? Some very unattractive Bored Ape trainers popped up in Skechers stores thanks to a Snoop Dogg collaboration. Now comes Trump.
Because nothing says the future of finance like overpriced, tacky kicks.
And yet I still want them.
Callan Quinn is DL News’ Hong Kong-based Asia Correspondent. Get in touch at callan@dlnews.com.
