On the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States, Melania Trump unveiled her cryptocurrency, $MELANIA, furthering the Trump family’s growing involvement in the digital assets space.
The announcement, made on Sunday via her X account, showcased her enthusiasm for the project as she declared, “The Official Melania Meme is live! You can buy $MELANIA now.”
Built on the Solana blockchain, a network renowned for its speed and scalability, $MELANIA is presented as a crypto asset with no ties to investment opportunities or securities, as clarified on its official website.
This disclaimer aligns with similar statements made about $TRUMP, the cryptocurrency launched earlier within the Trump ecosystem.
Donald Trump’s relationship with cryptocurrency has undergone a striking evolution. Initially a vocal critic who dismissed digital assets as a “scam,” Trump shifted his stance during his 2024 presidential campaign.
He became the first presidential candidate to accept cryptocurrency donations and proposed significant changes to financial regulations. His pledges to build a strategic Bitcoin reserve and appoint pro-crypto financial regulators spurred optimism across the digital asset community.
Following his electoral victory, Bitcoin surged to an all-time high of $107,000, according to Coinbase, while other cryptocurrencies like Dogecoin, promoted by Trump ally Elon Musk, experienced notable gains.
The $MELANIA cryptocurrency has quickly gained traction, with a valuation of approximately $1.7 billion as of Monday. According to CoinMarketCap, the coin’s circulating supply stands at 62.21 million tokens, with its price rising 50.09% in the past 24 hours to $11.02.
Meanwhile, $TRUMP continues to dominate, boasting a market valuation of $12 billion, reflecting robust investor confidence in Trump-backed cryptocurrencies.
This surge in crypto activity represents a significant departure from the policies of the Biden administration, which heavily regulated the industry.
Citing concerns about fraud and money laundering, regulators under Biden’s leadership initiated lawsuits against major exchanges and imposed tighter scrutiny on the sector.
In contrast, the Trump administration has signaled a crypto-friendly approach, likely reducing regulatory hurdles to encourage innovation and adoption.
The $MELANIA coin also comes with strict user terms. The official website states that only individuals legally eligible to enter binding contracts may use the platform, and access is limited to users aged 18 or older, or those who meet the age of majority in their jurisdiction. The platform reserves the right to revoke access for individuals failing to meet these criteria.
The influence of cryptocurrency in politics was on full display during Friday’s "Crypto Ball" in Washington, DC.
Hosted by incoming AI and crypto czar David Sacks, the event drew high-profile blockchain advocates and highlighted the growing role of digital assets in shaping financial and political policy.
Melania Trump’s foray into the cryptocurrency world signals the Trump administration’s deepening embrace of blockchain technology.
With $MELANIA joining $TRUMP as part of the family’s digital asset portfolio, this move sets the tone for a policy environment likely to prioritize innovation and integration of cryptocurrency into the United States’ financial and political frameworks.