WASHINGTON, DC: The U.S First Lady Melania Trump has stepped into the cryptocurrency world with the launch of her own meme coin, $MELANIA. The announcement came just days after her husband, former US President Donald Trump, introduced his own cryptocurrency, $TRUMP.

Both $TRUMP and $MELANIA are meme coins i.e., a type of cryptocurrency known for their volatile nature and inspiration from internet culture. Despite lacking intrinsic value, these coins often attract significant attention, leading to unpredictable price fluctuations.

Melania Trump took to social media platform X on Sunday to unveil her cryptocurrency, writing, “The Official Melania Meme is live! You can buy $MELANIA now.” Her announcement caused ripples in the crypto market, temporarily affecting the value of $TRUMP, which had been launched just two days earlier.

A Tale of Two Meme Coins

$TRUMP debuted with an artistic depiction of Donald Trump raising his fist, while $MELANIA features a sleek black-and-white photograph of the former First Lady. Both coins operate on the Solana blockchain and are being marketed as a celebration of their respective personal brands.

After an initial surge, $TRUMP’s value climbed above $70 by Sunday afternoon, according to data from CoinGecko. However, following the launch of $MELANIA, the value of $TRUMP dropped to $40 before stabilizing at around $60 early Monday. Meanwhile, $MELANIA was trading at just over $12 during the same period.

Trump’s Crypto Evolution

Donald Trump’s relationship with cryptocurrency has evolved significantly in recent years. Once a vocal critic of Bitcoin, calling it “based on thin air,” Trump has since embraced the crypto space. In July 2024, he addressed attendees at one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency conventions and appointed Howard Lutnick—a prominent supporter of the cryptocurrency company Tether—as head of the US Commerce Department.

$TRUMP’s market capitalization, based on its circulating supply of 200 million coins, stands at approximately $13 billion, according to CoinMarketCap. Over the next three years, the total supply of $TRUMP coins is expected to reach 1 billion, as stated on its official website.

Market Position and Disclaimers

Both $TRUMP and $MELANIA feature disclaimers on their respective websites, clarifying that the coins are intended to promote engagement with their personal brands rather than serve as investment opportunities. Notably, 80% of $TRUMP’s supply is held by Trump-affiliated entities CIC Digital and Fight Fight Fight LLC, with a three-year unlocking schedule that prevents immediate liquidation of holdings.

$TRUMP’s website boldly promotes the coin as “the only official Trump meme,” encouraging supporters to “own a piece of history” while celebrating Trump’s unwavering leadership.

A New Frontier for the Trumps

With both Melania and Donald Trump now in the cryptocurrency game, the couple has added a new dimension to their personal branding efforts. Whether this venture will resonate with their supporters or simply remain a fleeting novelty remains to be seen, but for now, the world is watching as the Trump family continues to make headlines in unexpected ways.