The crypto industry witnessed substantial uncertainty at the start of the week after the Trump home ventured into joke coins, with cryptocurrencies they launched a moment before sliding in price.
First Lady Melania Trump’s newly launched meme coin, Melania Meme ( MELANIA ), has fallen more than 60 % from its debut high following President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
MELANIA now sits with a market cap of$ 625. 5 million, per files. At the same time, Donald Trump’s meme coin, Official Trump ( TRUMP), also took a sharp hit, falling 43 % to$ 45 from a peak of$ 73. 43 earlier in the week.
The Solana-based coin skyrocketed 12,000 % on its debut, reaching as high as$ 13. 05 before falling to simply$ 4. 18, CoinGecko information displays.
Billed as a collectable and entertainment gift, the project’s FAQ noted it is “not a financial tool or purchase. ” But, the steep fall in its worth has raised concerns about its theoretical nature despite the disclaimers.
The image coin’s supply design, designed for continuous release, allocates 35 % of tokens to group vesting over 13 months, alongside a 20 % bank and community initiative allocation.
Likewise, TRUMP first saw explosive development, breaking into the top 15 cryptocurrencies by business helmet during its peak just a moment before his inauguration as the U. S. President.
However, the release of MELANIA and the subsequent distraction of cash triggered a strong decline for the Trump image gold.
Infrastructure problems on Solana exacerbated the conflict, with systems like Phantom Wallet and Jupiter Exchange overcome by deal surges.
“The launch of TRUMP token represents an unprecedented moment in crypto markets, marking the first time a sitting president has been associated with a memecoin launch, ” Dan Hughes, Founder and CTO of, told .
Hughes noted that the subsequent launch of the MELANIA token, coupled with reports of team wallets converting TRUMP holdings into major cryptos like Solana ( SOL), Ethereum ( ETH), and potentially Bitcoin ( BTC )—coinciding with its surge to$ 108,000—suggests a potentially coordinated strategy that could destabilize market dynamics.
“This pattern of celebrity-driven token launches, particularly from political figures, potentially marks a concerning trend in crypto markets where influence and liquidity manipulation could overshadow fundamental value creation,” Hughes stated.
Amidst the meme coin chaos, World Liberty Financial ( WLF), a DeFi platform affiliated with President Trump and his family, made significant crypto moves amid the inauguration.
The platform added approximately 439 Wrapped Bitcoin ( wBTC ), valued at$ 47 million, to its balance, increasing its holdings to 456. 77 wBTC.
The purchase was part of a series of transactions totaling nearly$ 100 million in BTC and ETH over two days.
Speaking to Sudhakar Lakshmanaraja, Founder of , said, “The Trump and Melania coin crash is a clear example of why substance must take precedence over hype in the world of cryptocurrency. ”
“This situation is a stark reminder that hype and speculation can only drive a token so far. Without a strong use case or utility, meme coins are vulnerable to volatility and market sentiment, ” Lakshmanaraja added.
The meme coin turbulence unfolded against the backdrop of President Trump’s second-term inauguration, where expectations for crypto-friendly policies were left unmet.
Trump’s inaugural speech and initial executive orders excluded digital assets, disappointing proponents who had anticipated regulatory clarity, a Bitcoin reserve, or a reversal of the SEC ’s controversial rule “SAB 121. ”
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