Key Takeaways:
- A group of traders allegedly profited nearly $100M by buying MELANIA tokens minutes before Melania Trump’s memecoin launch.
- Both MELANIA and TRUMP tokens have drawn political scrutiny over insider trading, foreign influence, and potential conflicts of interest.
- Token prices have since crashed, with MELANIA dropping to $0.31 and TRUMP to $10.90, amid concerns of centralized insider control.
A group of crypto traders reportedly made nearly $100 million by buying Melania Trump’s memecoin (MELANIA) just before its official launch on January 19.
Spending $2.6 million, the traders acquired tokens ahead of the public announcement, then sold them within 12 hours as the price surged from $2.00 to $12.95.
A small group of traders earned a $99.6mn windfall by buying Melania Trump’s cryptocurrency token in the minutes before it was made public, an analysis by the Financial Times has found. https://t.co/KqsDps49lU pic.twitter.com/05KM9QeTBj
— Financial Times (@FT) May 6, 2025
In total, 24 wallets purchased 16.7 million of the 200 million available tokens.
Another 22 wallets bought $900,000 worth within 42 seconds after launch.
The timing has raised suspicions of insider knowledge.
This follows the earlier launch of Donald Trump’s TRUMP coin, which also saw controversial activity, including offers of private dinners for top holders.
U.S. lawmakers have voiced concerns over potential conflicts of interest, foreign influence, and corruption.
One senator has even called for Trump’s impeachment. Both coins have since plunged in value—MELANIA to $0.31 and TRUMP to $10.90.
Notably, 80% of the TRUMP supply is controlled by two Trump-linked companies, raising fears of a future rug pull despite a three-year lock-up period.
The events have intensified political and regulatory scrutiny of crypto-linked public figures.
About The Author
Adam Morris, the co-founder of Crypto Head and a respected crypto expert, offers insightful commentary and analysis on cryptocurrency, NFTs, and the evolving digital landscape.
His extensive experience and features in top-tier publications like Forbes and CNN underscore his deep understanding of the crypto world and its future potential.
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