In a move mirroring her husband’s controversial crypto venture, First Lady Melania Trump launched $MELANIA coin (a Solana-based memecoin) on January 19, 2025, just days before Donald Trump’s inauguration.
The meme coin quickly garnered attention due to its association with the First Lady and its release just two days after her husband, President-elect Donald Trump, unveiled the official $TRUMP meme coin.
Marketed as a “digital collectible,” the token sparked immediate speculation, volatility, and ethical debates. Below, we explore $MELANIA’s origins, tokenomics, and the conversations it has ignited.
Melania’s announcement immediately propelled $MELANIA into the crypto limelight, attracting millions of views and driving initial investments into the coin.
Meme coins, e.g., Dogecoin and Shiba Inu, are cryptocurrencies inspired by viral internet trends or cultural moments. They often:
The $MELANIA coin is a digital asset on the Solana blockchain, branded as a “digital collectible” that allows supporters to engage with the values symbolized by Melania Trump’s public persona. The project emphasizes its non-political nature and declares that it is not an investment vehicle or security.
$MELANIA is being distributed by MKT World LLC, a Florida-based company incorporated by Melania Trump in 2021. The company has previously been involved in various ventures, including:
$MELANIA can be purchased directly through its official website using a Debit or credit card, Apple Pay, Venmo, or crypto via Jupiter/Stripe. As with any crypto asset, potential buyers should exercise caution and conduct thorough research.
The team’s vesting schedule is designed to encourage ensure long-term commitment while gradually increasing the circulating supply, with 90% of the team’s allocation unlocking monthly after the initial lock period.
Intended for entertainment and symbolic value only.
According to the official website, $MELANIA is marketed as a collectible rather than a financial instrument. It explicitly avoids labeling itself as an investment or security, with its primary purpose being to foster community engagement and symbolize support for the First Lady’s ideals.
Social media, especially Twitter/X, played a pivotal role in amplifying $MELANIA’s reach. The First Lady’s tweet was reposted by President Trump, adding further visibility.
The motives behind Melania Trump’s meme coin remain unclear, but possible factors may include:
The Trump family has increasingly embraced crypto ventures, including Donald’s TRUMP coin and their sons’ World Liberty Financial. MELANIA appears to extend this strategy, targeting collectors and crypto-savvy supporters.
At its peak, MELANIA’s market cap reached $2.15 billion, though its value fluctuated wildly. The Trump-affiliated MKT World LLC holds 35% of the token supply, which some suggest could be valued at hundreds of millions if prices were to stabilize. which, if prices stabilize, could potentially be worth hundreds of millions.
Launched days before Trump’s inauguration, $MELANIA capitalized on the pro-crypto sentiment fueled by his pledge to make the U.S. the “crypto capital of the planet.”
Ethics experts, including former Obama adviser Norman Eisen, labeled the Trump family’s crypto ventures “the worst conflict of interest in modern presidential history.” With Melania’s company holding 35% of $MELANIA and Donald’s entities controlling 80% of $TRUMP, critics argue their financial stakes could influence policy decisions.
Unlike past presidents, such as Jimmy Carter, who placed assets like his peanut farm into blind trusts to avoid ethical dilemmas, the First Family is now directly entangled in highly speculative crypto assets, blurring the lines between personal gain and public responsibility.
Meme coins are widely considered inherently volatile, and many observers view $MELANIA as no exception. Meme coins are inherently volatile, and $MELANIA is no exception. While early adopters reaped significant gains, late entrants may risk losing substantial investments. Similar tokens in the past have faced allegations of being “pump and dump” schemes.
Crypto advocates worry that the focus on meme coins like $MELANIA and $TRUMP could detract from serious blockchain innovations.
The simultaneous launch of $TRUMP and $MELANIA coins has intensified scrutiny on how the First Family’s crypto ventures could influence regulatory policies under the incoming trump administration. Critics fear political power could be wielded to favor these projects—especially as Trump-appointed regulators like David Sacks (Crypto Czar) face scrutiny for potential favoritism.
Here's the unvarnished truth about crypto meme coins like $MELANIA:
Experts warn meme coins like $MELANIA are “pure gambling,” citing the “Hawk Tuah” coin’s 95% crash as a cautionary tale.
As the First Lady’s $MELANIA coin gains traction, its long-term viability hinges on a critical question: Will it endure as a symbol of loyalty to Melania Trump or collapse under the weight of ethical scrutiny? Can the president and first lady credibly regulate an industry where their financial stakes run into the billions?
