Cryptocurrency billionaire Justin Sun’s Tron group is set to make a significant move into the U.S. public market through a reverse merger with SRM Entertainment, a small Nasdaq-listed toy company. This strategic maneuver marks the latest effort by the Chinese-born tycoon to expand his digital-currency empire in the United States.
The Deal Details
On Monday, SRM Entertainment announced its plans to change its name to ‘Tron’, with Justin Sun appointed as an adviser to the company. Furthermore, SRM revealed it had signed a securities purchase agreement for a $100 million investment, specifically earmarked to acquire Tron’s TRX digital tokens. This acquisition is intended to establish a Tron “treasury strategy,” aligning with a growing trend among publicly traded companies to integrate cryptocurrencies onto their balance sheets.
The total investment is valued at $210 million upon full exercise of warrants. SRM aims to leverage the global adoption of blockchain and digital innovation to create long-term shareholder value, and plans to implement a dividend policy as part of this strategy.
Currently, Winter Park, Fla.-based SRM specializes in designing and manufacturing toys, souvenirs, and plush items for theme parks and entertainment ventures, including products like Smurfs water bottles and stuffed animals. Following the disclosure of the merger, SRM shares experienced a dramatic surge, rising more than 500% on Monday to close at $9.192.
Justin Sun’s Strategic Ties and Legal Landscape
Justin Sun’s move to take Tron public comes amidst his deepening ties with the Trump family and the broader U.S. political landscape.
He recently attended a gala dinner with President Trump last month, an event for the largest holders of Trump’s memecoin, having amassed over $20 million of the memecoin to secure his spot. Sun has also invested $75 million in World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture backed by the Trump family, and serves as an adviser to the project.
HTX, a crypto exchange effectively led by Sun, recently became the first trading venue to list World Liberty’s USD1 stablecoin. Sun maintains that his investment in World Liberty was not politically motivated.
This announcement also follows a notable development in Sun’s legal challenges. In February, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) asked a court to pause its fraud lawsuit against Sun and three of his companies, a case where he was accused in 2023 of manipulating the market for Tron’s TRX token. This pause is described as part of a “broader rollback of crypto enforcement under the Trump administration.” Sun has consistently stated that the SEC’s lawsuit is meritless3.
Industry Trend and Vision
The decision by SRM to acquire TRX tokens is part of a rising trend where companies with no prior ties to crypto are embracing digital assets for their balance sheets. While many companies have acquired Bitcoin, others have invested in smaller tokens like Ether, Solana, and even Trump’s memecoin.
Rich Miller, SRM’s Chief Executive, expressed enthusiasm for the future, stating, “As blockchain technology gains wider adoption globally, Tron has become the industry leader for cross border settlement in U.S. dollar stablecoin.” Miller added, “We are excited to invest into the future of the world’s next generation financial infrastructure”.
Dominari Securities, a small investment firm with offices in the Trump Tower, is the sole firm responsible for finding investors and managing the capital-raising process for SRM’s token deal. Notably, Dominari shares rallied in February after the company named President Trump’s sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., as advisers.
Justin Sun himself hailed the SRM deal on social media, posting in Chinese, “This time the big one is finally here”.
