The recent launch of $TRUMP and $MELANIA memecoin by US President-elect Donald Trump and Melania Trump has become a subject of debate within the crypto industry. While whales are capitalizing on the new memecoins, opinions across the crypto community remain deeply divided over Trump’s strategic venture.
Crypto Exchanges List $Trump $Melania Memecoin
The Trump family’s second crypto venture— the first being World Liberty Finance (WLFI), was eagerly welcomed by crypto exchanges. Binance and Coinbase quickly listed $TRUMP, while GATE, MEXC, and other platforms followed suit by listing $MELANIA.
Many in the crypto industry view the launch of these memecoins, strategically timed just days before Trump’s presidential inauguration, as a sign that his administration might accelerate crypto-friendly regulations. Some also believe the tokens aim to rally and reward his crypto-supporting base.
$Trump, $Melania Memecoin: Reaction From Within Crypto Community
However, not everyone is on board with the move. Notably, crypto expert and ‘Trump supporter’ Nic Carter criticized the move as “preposterous,” adding, “This was entirely predictable, but I strongly disagree with what he’s doing.”
Crypto journalist Zac Guzman argued that the timing of the launch was likely deliberate. He noted that waiting until after Trump’s inauguration could have exposed him to violations of the U.S. Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which prohibits a president from profiting from foreign governments.
There is a very important reason why the Trumps are launching $TRUMP and now $MELANIA so fast before the inauguration
And whether you love Trump or hate Trump, the fact is that waiting another day could’ve opened him up to Constitutional violations & impeachment (again) 🧵 pic.twitter.com/fYw2ZsjTK7
— Zack Guzmán (@zGuz) January 19, 2025
Trump’s previous ventures, including NFT drops through CIC Digital, reportedly earned him $7.2 million, while Melania’s NFT projects generated over $330,000. Guzman emphasized that launching the coins before taking office sidesteps these legal complications.
$Trump, $Melania Memecoin: Balaji Srinivasan Warns Investors
Former Coinbase CTO Balaji Srinivasan has warned investors to approach with caution. “A memecoin is essentially a zero-sum lottery,” he explained. “Every buy order matches a sell order, and after the initial hype, prices typically crash, leaving late buyers at a loss.”
A memecoin is a zero-sum* lottery.
There is no wealth creation. Every buy order is simply matched by a sell order. And after an initial spike, the price eventually crashes and the last buyers lose everything.
* It’s actually negative sum if the platform takes a cut.
— Balaji (@balajis) January 19, 2025
However, Srinivasan also came up with a bold suggestion: Trump could use $TRUMP tokens to distribute locked airdrops worth $100 to his 77 million voters, costing him $7.7 billion—less than a third of the asset’s potential value. A larger airdrop of $500 per person would still leave him with over $20 billion in assets. Such a move, he argued, could create a “social contract” between Trump and his supporters, offering a form of universal basic income (UBI) and potentially reshaping political funding dynamics.
Democrat Official Targets $Trump, $Melania
Democrats have already targeted Trump’s foray into the memecoin space. Representative Sean Casten (D-Ill.), a critic of crypto on the House Financial Services Committee, accused Trump of prioritizing self-enrichment over ethical governance. “He continues to show that neither the well-being of his supporters nor ethical concerns will stand in the way of his financial interests,” Casten remarked.
Also Read: Post $TRUMP, $MELANIA Memecoins, Other Coins Fall, but WLFI Blows Up!
