Eric Trump, son of former U.S. President Donald Trump, has publicly expressed his admiration for Justin Sun, the founder of the Tron blockchain network, while simultaneously denying any official involvement in Tron's planned public venture in the United States. This announcement follows reports that Tron intends to go public in the U.S. through a reverse merger with SRM Entertainment, a Nasdaq-listed company.
According to reports on June 16, 2025, Tron is planning to enter the U.S. public markets via a reverse merger with SRM Entertainment. This merger would result in the creation of a new entity called Tron Inc., which would hold a substantial amount of TRX, Tron's native token. The Financial Times reported that Eric Trump might be part of Tron Inc. in a leadership role. Dominari Securities, a New York-based investment firm with ties to the Trump family, is reportedly arranging the transaction.
In response to these reports, Eric Trump took to social media platform X to clarify his position. "I'm the biggest fan of Tron and love [Justin Sun] – he is a great friend and an icon in the crypto space," he stated. However, he explicitly denied any "public involvement in this company," refuting earlier claims that he would be part of Sun's new public venture.
Tron's move to go public involves a $100 million equity investment through a Securities Purchase Agreement with a private investor. This investment will fund a new TRX Treasury Strategy, potentially increasing the deal's total value to $210 million with warrants. As part of the agreement, SRM Entertainment will rebrand as Tron Inc., effectively providing Tron with a backdoor entry to the Nasdaq. SRM's stock experienced a surge of 580% following the announcement of the reverse merger. Furthermore, the company intends to launch a TRX staking program as part of its treasury strategy to boost shareholder value.
Justin Sun has also been appointed as an advisor to SRM Entertainment. Sun stated that Tron aims to be the protocol of choice for on-chain settlement, serving mass populations worldwide, highlighting the transformative potential of stablecoins and blockchain in global payments.
Tron, currently the world's ninth-largest blockchain project with a market capitalization of $26.5 billion, boasts over 310 million international user accounts and an average daily transaction volume exceeding $20 billion year-to-date. The network is recognized for its speed, low costs, and extensive stablecoin market. Following the news of the planned public debut, Tron's native token, TRX, experienced a surge of nearly 7%.
Eric Trump's denial of any official role is significant, especially given initial reports suggesting his involvement. While he has expressed admiration for Justin Sun and the Tron project, his clarification aims to maintain transparency and avoid potential conflicts of interest. The absence of Eric Trump in an official capacity might also assuage concerns regarding political interference or favoritism in the company's operations.
Despite Eric Trump's denial, the connection between Justin Sun and the Trump family remains a point of interest. Dominari Securities, the firm facilitating the reverse merger, has documented ties to the Trump family, with Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump reportedly joining the advisory board of Dominari's parent company earlier in the year. This connection raises questions about potential behind-the-scenes involvement and the influence of the Trump family in the deal.
The reverse merger with SRM Entertainment signifies a crucial moment for Tron as it aims to broaden its reach and strengthen its position in the competitive cryptocurrency market.
