Melania and Donald Trump Launch Their Own Meme Coins, Raising Concerns

Melania Trump is making headlines not only as the incoming First Lady but also for launching her own cryptocurrency in the form of a meme coin.

As the incoming First Lady, Melania Trump has not only made headlines but has also launched her own cryptocurrency in the form of a meme coin.

“The Official Melania Meme is live! You can buy $MELANIA now,” she posted on Twitter, which was reposted by her husband, Donald Trump, on the eve of his inauguration as U.S. president.

The Official Melania Meme is live!

You can buy $MELANIA now.

https://t.co/8FXvlMBhVf

FUAfBo2jgks6gB4Z4LfZkqSZgzNucisEHqnNebaRxM1P pic.twitter.com/t2vYiahRn6

— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIATRUMP) January 19, 2025

Here's what you need to know.

What Is a Meme Coin?

Memecoins are cryptocurrencies often inspired by internet memes or trends. They can be created and launched by anyone, and thousands currently exist. According to Coinbase, a meme coin is considered risky and even “volatile,” though sometimes, a coin might be launched as a lighthearted joke.

How Much Is the Melania Meme Coin?

After initially launching at around $7, the Melania coin was trading at approximately $8 on Monday morning, with a market cap of $1.57 billion, according to CoinMarketCap.

Melania's meme coin is issued through her incorporated company, MKT World LLC—a firm she has used since 2021 for various ventures, including selling portraits of herself as First Lady.

How Much Is Donald Trump’s Meme Coin?

The Trump meme coin initially sold for $10 each before soaring to nearly $70 by Sunday morning. However, its value sharply declined later that day after Melania announced her own coin.

As of Monday morning, it is valued at around $51, with a market cap of approximately $10.3 billion, according to CoinMarketCap.

What Are the Concerns About Trump’s Involvement with Meme Coins?

Potential concerns have been raised about the incoming President and First Lady launching meme coins, which are often volatile and part of a crypto industry that typically begins as a joke with little to no real value. Critics have warned that the Trump meme coin could present a risky opportunity for special interests and foreign governments to attempt to gain influence with the president.

“Now anyone in world can essentially deposit money into bank account of President of USA with a couple clicks,” Anthony Scaramucci, a former Trump White House communications director, said on Twitter.

In promoting the meme coin, Trump urged supporters to “Have Fun!” The website selling the tokens emphasizes that they are intended as expressions of support, not investment opportunities.

Who Else Has Launched a Meme Coin?

In December 2024, Haliey Welch, a.k.a. “Hawk Tuah Girl,” launched a meme coin called HAWK, which quickly skyrocketed to stardom on social media—thanks to that raunchy viral TikTok video.

However, the 22-year-old influencer faced criticism after the value of her HAWK meme coin reportedly plummeted by $440 million within its first 20 minutes.

The rapid decline left many investors in financial distress, sparking an outcry on social media that the cryptocurrency was a pump-and-dump scheme. One user on Twitter voiced their frustration, stating, “You didn’t mention that you were going to buy 97% of the supply and sell it almost immediately to make a large profit. If I would have known that information I would have not purchased your coin. Please help me or who can I contact for refund? If not I will be forced to use legal action.”

Welch has since commented that she is fully cooperating with lawyers to resolve the matter.

“I take this situation extremely seriously and want to address my fans, the investors who have been affected, and the broader community,” Welch said.

“I am fully cooperating with and am committed to assisting the legal team representing the individuals impacted, as well as to help uncover the truth, hold the responsible parties accountable, and resolve this matter,” Welch added. “If you have experienced losses related to this, please contact Burwick Law.”