Mon Jan 20 07:57:46 UTC 2025: ## Trump Meme Coin Launches, Sends Crypto Market into Volatility

**NEW YORK** – The debut of a meme cryptocurrency bearing President-elect Donald Trump’s name has sent shockwaves through the cryptocurrency market. $TRUMP, launched January 18th, surged to a peak value of $75, boasting a market capitalization of $15 billion at its height. As of January 20th, it’s trading at $60, still representing a significant increase from its initial launch price. The coin’s launch, coupled with the subsequent release of a competing coin, $MELANIA, linked to Melania Trump, has fueled massive trading volumes and significant price swings.

The launch of these coins has reportedly added billions to the Trump family’s net worth, making them among the wealthiest in the world, according to the New York Times. $MELANIA, while initially experiencing a dramatic 3000% increase, currently trades at $11.42, with a market capitalization of $1.62 billion.

The sudden influx of capital into the Trump tokens has negatively impacted other major cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin and Ethereum experienced significant drops, as did XRP and Tether. Solana, the blockchain used for the Trump coins, performed relatively better. The overall crypto market capitalization decreased by 3.49% to $3.51 trillion, despite a substantial increase in trading volume.

Experts attribute the market downturn to the sheer volume of capital flowing into the Trump-branded coins. Richard Galvin, co-founder of hedge fund DACM, commented that cryptocurrencies were trading “poorly” due to this capital shift. Despite the volatility, some investors remain optimistic, anticipating a wave of crypto-friendly regulations under the incoming Trump administration. While some celebrate the Trumps’ financial acumen, others raise ethical concerns and potential conflicts of interest. President-elect Trump’s administration has promised a crypto-friendly approach, with pro-crypto individuals slated for key positions.

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