Sales volume for Donald Trump NFT trading cards have surged after his recent indictment on more than 30 counts tied to fraudulent business dealings. The floor price for the cheapest-listed NFT in the collection rose 24% to $1,023, with secondary trading volume up 404%.

The NFTs, which feature Trump in various costumes and with various perks such as a video chat with the former president, were originally minted for $99 each on the Polygon network. The initial hype quickly died down after technical glitches, questionable fine print and a mocking mention on Saturday Night Live, with daily trading volume falling 98% from its peak.

However, daily sales of the NFTs surged at the start of 2023 and have remained volatile since. Total trading volume for Trump NFTs has exceeded $18.6m, according to CryptoSlam. With Trump becoming the first former or current US president to face criminal charges, his NFTs may prove to be a valuable wager for some buyers placing bets on his return to mainstream visibility.

(By Ryan Ozawa)