Incoming First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump, has introduced her own cryptocurrency, $MELANIA, just before her husband, Donald Trump, is sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. The announcement was made via the social platform X on Sunday, where Melania stated, “The Official Melania Meme is live! You can buy $MELANIA now.” This new cryptocurrency operates on the Solana blockchain, as detailed on its official website.
This move comes on the heels of Donald Trump’s own cryptocurrency launch, $Trump, which has already stirred considerable market interest. The trading of both cryptocurrencies has been marked by volatility, reflecting the speculative nature of meme coins.
Both $Trump and $MELANIA’s websites carry disclaimers stating that these assets are not intended to be considered as investment opportunities or securities. Despite this, $Trump has achieved a market cap of around $8.7 billion (£7.1 billion), and $MELANIA has quickly amassed a valuation of approximately $1.3 billion, according to CoinMarketCap.
Donald Trump’s stance on cryptocurrency has notably changed since his previous comments labeling it a “scam.” During his 2024 election campaign, Trump became the first major party presidential candidate to accept digital assets for campaign donations. He has also advocated for a strategic bitcoin reserve and committed to appointing crypto-friendly regulators, signaling a potential easing of regulations in the cryptocurrency sector.
The crypto market has responded positively to Trump’s policies; Bitcoin, for instance, has reached a new all-time high of $140,000 as reported by Coinbase. Additionally, other cryptocurrencies like dogecoin, endorsed by Elon Musk, a prominent Trump supporter, have also seen significant gains.
Preceding the inauguration, a “Crypto Ball” was held in Washington, DC, organized by David Sacks, who is set to serve as the AI and crypto tsar in Trump’s administration. This event highlighted the integration of cryptocurrency into the political and social landscape of the U.S. under Trump’s incoming presidency.
This series of events marks a unique intersection of politics and cryptocurrency, potentially reshaping the regulatory and cultural landscape of digital assets in the United States.
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