What Is REAL? Conor McGregor's staking-enabled memecoin explained

Conor McGregor, also known as “Notorious,” is an Irish mixed martial artist born in Dublin on July 14, 1988. He is renowned for his achievements in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he became the first fighter to simultaneously hold titles in two weight classes — featherweight and lightweight.

Conor McGregor, also known as "Notorious," is an Irish mixed martial artist. He was born in Dublin on July 14, 1988.

He is known for his achievements in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he became the first fighter to simultaneously hold titles in two weight classes — featherweight and lightweight.

Apart from his fighting career, McGregor stepped into entrepreneurship. In 2018, he launched his whiskey brand, Proper No. Twelve, named after his Dublin roots.

He used his UFC fame to market the triple-distilled blend. In 2021, McGregor sold a majority stake in the brand to Proximo Spirits for an estimated $600 million, but he will still have a significant role in the company.

Now, in April 2025, McGregor is venturing into the crypto market with his own memecoin — "REAL."

The digital token, which is touted to "change the crypto world," will be launched through a sealed-bid auction to prevent interference from bots and snipers.

It is being developed in collaboration with the Real World Gaming (RWG) decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), and it will offer holders staking rewards and voting rights within its ecosystem.

What happened during REAL memecoin fundraising?

McGregor set out to make a big impact in the crypto world with his REAL memecoin, but it seems to have fizzled out.

The UFC star partnered with RWG to raise funds for the project, with a minimum goal of $1,008,000. But during the 28-hour presale, the DAO managed to collect only $392,315 in USDC (USDC) from 668 contributors — only 39% of its target.

Announcing the closure of the auction, RWG said that they would be fully refunding all the bids. McGregor also chimed in, to endorse the announcement.

For the fundraising, the REAL token was being sold through a sealed-bid auction on Axis Finance. Users were privately submitting bids, stating the quantity and price they desired, and tokens would be allocated to the highest bidders at a single clearing price.

After discussing where they went wrong, RWG is now planning to relaunch the fundraising. The team did not yet provide a date for the return of the presale.

McGregor has been vocal throughout, typically announcing or endorsing project updates with his signature line, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is REAL!" The team plans to refocus the token's purpose and possibly adjust its fundraising approach for a more successful relaunch.

Did you know? Memecoins often gain value due to community hype and viral trends, not technical innovation. While they lack strong fundamentals, social media buzz and celebrity endorsements can drive massive short-term gains, making them popular among high-risk, high-reward investors.

Reasons for REAL memecoin’s fundraising failure

RWG’s attempt to launch the REAL memecoin faced several challenges, which led to the DAO failing to meet its fundraising goals.

Several factors contributed to this outcome:

Did you know? Some memecoins have sparked real-world donations and activism. For instance, members of the Dogecoin community once raised over $50,000 to send the Jamaican bobsled team to the 2014 Winter Olympics, showcasing how memecoins can foster both fun and philanthropy.

Purpose and tokenomics of REAL memecoin

The purpose of REAL is to serve functions like staking, governance and utility, and it will also feature a real-world MMA fight simulator and future business integrations. However, the tokenomics of the coin have come under criticism.

According to the RWG team, the REAL memecoin tokenomics model was designed for transparency and community engagement.

It will see 32% of the total supply allocated to the RWG treasury to support the ecosystem’s growth, while 17% will be distributed to the community to encourage their participation.

To earn governance rights and rewards, tokenholders can stake the coin, and 10% of the token will be used to fund the development team. The model aims to fund sports and gaming startups, combining hype with practical utility.

However, critics have pointed out flaws in the tokenomics, which many believe is one reason for the poor show in fundraising. They were particularly harsh on the token’s 12-hour unlock window.

This will allow investors to sell their tokens shortly after their acquisition and still make profits, even while the price is going down. Several projects have used such a structure earlier for pump and dump, which has created a bad precedent. It will deter the long-term investors who prefer a sustainable growth strategy.

The project’s marketing approach has also raised eyebrows, with many feeling that the project adds no real value and is just an attempt to capitalize on a celebrity’s name.

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