Celebrities, Politicians Turn Themselves into Memecoins, Sparking Wild Price Swings

Memecoins, once a playful internet phenomenon, have evolved into a significant financial force in 2025. Politicians and celebrities are now turning themselves into tradable assets, with their names and images attached to tokens that spark wild price swings. These memecoins have transcended their initial status as digital gimmicks and have become status symbols, political statements, and financial wildcards. The question remains: are they a legitimate new asset class?

U.S. President Donald Trump's name has been linked to memecoins like MAGA and TRUMP, with the latter officially launched by him. This has led to significant price fluctuations as traders attempt to predict his next political move. First Lady Melania Trump also launched a memecoin, further solidifying the Trump brand as a financial instrument. Argentine President Javier Milei's endorsement of LIBRA resulted in a token collapse after allegations of manipulation, leaving traders with worthless assets. Internet star Hailey Welch faced a pump-and-dump scheme when a token launched in her name without her consent, while Kanye West's erratic crypto activities included warnings about fake tokens and rumors of a crypto scam ring.

These memecoins are not carefully constructed crypto ventures with long-term roadmaps. Instead, they are high-volatility gambits driven by clout and speculation. Peter Kris, CEO and Co-founder of Gasp, noted that the value of these memecoins is mostly driven by hype and speculation rather than real utility or innovation. Most of these tokens follow a predictable cycle of hype and crashes, generating short-term liquidity and engagement rather than serving as meaningful long-term investments. While some celebrity-backed memecoins attract new users to crypto, their speculative nature risks driving people away from the space altogether.

The lifecycle of these memecoins follows a predictable pattern. A celebrity or politician gets linked to a token, driving retail speculation. Insiders and whales load up early, watching the price surge as FOMO sets in. Then liquidity dries up, insiders cash out, and retail traders are left holding the bag. LIBRA's implosion followed this exact script, with on-chain analysis revealing large wallet outflows minutes before its price collapse, pointing to orchestrated dumping by early backers. This isn't about utility or innovation; it's about attention. In 2025, attention is the most liquid asset of all. When influence itself can be tokenized, the