Melania Trump Launches Her Own Cryptocurrency as Bitcoin Hits Record High
Just days before Donald Trump’s inauguration, the incoming first lady, Melania Trump, has launched her own cryptocurrency, $MELANIA. The move comes shortly after Trump himself introduced the $TRUMP coin, both of which are trading on the Solana blockchain.
Announcing the launch on X, Melania posted, "The Official Melania Meme is live! You can buy $MELANIA now." The cryptocurrency’s website describes it as a meme coin meant for “support and engagement” rather than an investment. However, despite disclaimers on both coins’ websites, their values have fluctuated wildly since launch.
Donald Trump’s $TRUMP initially surged in price after its release, hitting more than $70 over the weekend. However, when Melania introduced $MELANIA, it caused the $TRUMP coin to drop sharply, reaching as low as $40 before recovering to around $60. Meanwhile, $MELANIA is currently trading at about $12.
Not everyone is happy about Trump’s crypto ventures. Crypto investor Nick Tomaino criticized the timing of $TRUMP’s launch, saying, “Trump owning 80 percent and timing launch hours before inauguration is predatory and many will likely get hurt by it.”
Despite these concerns, Tomaino acknowledged that Trump’s presidency could be beneficial for the crypto industry, saying, “Vibe shift from Biden anti-crypto era to Trump era is great.” Other cryptocurrencies, including Dogecoin—backed by Elon Musk, a known Trump supporter—have also seen a rise in value this year.
Bitcoin hits all-time high
This isn’t Trump’s first interaction with cryptocurrency. While he previously called Bitcoin a “scam,” he has since embraced digital assets. He became the first presidential candidate to accept crypto donations and has promised to make the U.S. the “crypto capital” by relaxing regulations and creating a national Bitcoin stockpile.
Bitcoin has responded positively to Trump’s victory, hitting an all-time high of $109,000. Investors believe that his administration will take a more lenient approach toward digital assets compared to President Joe Biden, whose regulators cracked down on the industry due to concerns over fraud and money laundering.
The Trump administration has already started bringing in crypto-friendly figures, such as Howard Lutnick, a supporter of Tether, who will lead the U.S. Commerce Department. Trump has also appointed David Sacks as the new AI and crypto tsar, signaling a push toward blockchain innovation.
The launch of these meme coins shows how deeply cryptocurrency is becoming embedded in Trump’s political brand. While $TRUMP’s website calls it “the only official Trump meme” and a celebration of his leadership, Melania’s coin suggests she wants her own place in the crypto space. Whether these tokens hold long-term value or fade as a passing trend remains to be seen.
