Incoming first lady Melania Trump has stepped into the cryptocurrency world, launching her own digital token, $MELANIA, on the eve of her husband Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president. The move follows President-elect Trump’s introduction of the $Trump cryptocurrency, marking a striking shift in the Trump family’s engagement with digital assets.
Melania announced the launch via social platform X, writing, “The official Melania meme is live! You can buy $MELANIA now.” Hosted on the Solana blockchain, $MELANIA is positioned as a crypto asset rather than a traditional investment vehicle, with disclaimers emphasizing it is “not intended to be” a security or investment opportunity.
Both coins have seen rapid adoption and volatile trading. $Trump boasts a market valuation of approximately $12 billion, while $MELANIA has quickly climbed to $1.7 billion, according to CoinMarketCap. This surge in interest underscores the growing cultural and financial relevance of cryptocurrencies in politics and beyond.
The Trump administration’s embrace of digital assets marks a stark departure from traditional skepticism, particularly given Donald Trump’s past characterization of crypto as a “scam.” During his 2024 presidential campaign, he reversed course, accepting digital assets for campaign donations and promising to establish a strategic bitcoin reserve and appoint pro-crypto regulators.
This shift has buoyed the broader crypto market, with bitcoin hitting a record high of $107,000. Other cryptocurrencies, such as dogecoin, have also surged, partly driven by endorsements from high-profile supporters like Elon Musk.
Meanwhile, incoming AI and crypto tsar David Sacks hosted a “Crypto Ball” in Washington, DC, celebrating the sector’s ascent. With the Trump administration set to loosen regulatory constraints, the crypto industry is poised for a significant transformation. Whether this heralds a new era of innovation or heightened risk remains to be seen.