Official Trump Coin (TRUMP) and Official Melania Coin (MELANIA) rocked the crypto market before the presidential inauguration. Is TRUMP an SEC target?
The crypto market is eventful and fast-paced, and this has been especially true since Donald Trump won the presidential election in November.
Bitcoin, Solana, and meme coins soared to record highs, with the world’s most valuable crypto making headlines after breaking $100,000 for the first time.
The next 4 years of US politics is going to be the biggest clown show ever.
Crime is legal now. https://t.co/0mR4848eTA pic.twitter.com/xf9YlVKbqe
— VikingXBT (@VikingXBT) January 20, 2025
Trump Meme Coins Dawn Era Of Mainstream Crypto
Fast-forward two months, and the president-elect did something no one expected. On Friday, January 18, his team launched TRUMP, the “Official Donald Trump” meme coin.
Although the token debuted after market hours, it exploded over the weekend, with prices surging above $50 and reaching as high as $74 on some exchanges.
At its peak, TRUMP had a market cap of over $14 billion and became one of the most valuable meme coins.
(Source)
Although prices later dipped earlier today—coinciding with the launch of the MELANIA meme coin by the incoming First Lady—the TRUMP token remains bullish.
The Official Melania Meme is live!
You can buy $MELANIA now. https://t.co/8FXvlMBhVf
FUAfBo2jgks6gB4Z4LfZkqSZgzNucisEHqnNebaRxM1P pic.twitter.com/t2vYiahRn6
— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIATRUMP) January 19, 2025
As Trump prepares to take office today, January 20, as the 47th President of the United States, it’s clear why his meme coin could see continued momentum in Q1 2025.
While the crypto market is excited, Why did Trump launch the token on Friday, January 18, less than 72 hours before his inauguration?
Why the TRUMP and MELANIA Tokens Had to Launch
Analysts have proposed several reasons for this strategic timing. While critics suggest Trump is motivated by personal enrichment, others point to legal constraints.
At the top of the list is the Emoluments Clause, which prohibits a sitting president from receiving profits or benefits from foreign governments.
This law also bars the president from using the office for personal gain without Congressional approval.
In light of this, the Emoluments Clause is evidently designed to prevent conflicts of interest and legal challenges arising from such situations.
The Trumps strategically avoided accusations of profiting from the presidency by launching TRUMP and MELANIA in quick succession before taking office.
Both coins have already spiked by over 10x, and the issuing addresses—likely directly controlled by Trump’s team—still retain a big chunk of the total supply.
Had these tokens been issued after January 20, Trump and the First Lady would likely have violated the Emoluments Clause, giving Democrats grounds to initiate impeachment proceedings.
What’s Next For Official Trump Coin and Official Melania Coin?
Even as the TRUMP and MELANIA meme coins register early success, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is closely monitoring them.
It remains uncertain whether these tokens will be classified as securities or utility tokens, similar to Bitcoin.
Analysts are now watching to see if TRUMP will resume its uptrend, potentially breaking the all-time highs reached over the weekend.
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