With President Donald Trump set to return to office, new developments in cryptocurrency are on the horizon. Just two days after the introduction of the $TRUMP crypto meme coin, Melania Trump has also entered the space with her own offering.

The Melania Trump meme coin began trading on Sunday evening around 6 p.m., just before Trump’s inauguration. The future first lady shared the news on her X account, previously known as Twitter, stating, “You can buy $MELANIA now.”

Initially priced at approximately $7, by Monday morning, the $MELANIA coin climbed to around $9, boasting a market cap of $1.65 billion as per CoinMarketCap. This performance is less impressive compared to the $TRUMP coin, which surged to nearly $50 and reached a market cap of about $10 billion.

Early investors who purchased $TRUMP coins at 18 cents may have seen substantial gains. Nonetheless, potential investors should be cautious due to the instability common in the cryptocurrency market.

“As with many new crypto projects, there is significant risk involved,” said David Reibstein, a marketing professor at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, who discussed the $TRUMP coin launch with YSL News.

“That said, there’s also potential for profit,” he noted. “Observe the fluctuations with Trump Media, which skyrocketed to nearly $100 before plummeting to below $13; it has now rebounded close to $40. It’s definitely an investment for the adventurous.”

Current Value of the Melania Trump Meme Coin

As of 8 a.m. on Monday, the Melania coin was trading at around $9, up from its initial value of $7.41 when it launched Sunday evening.

Much like the Trump coin, the Melania meme coin operates on the Solana blockchain. Presently, around 450,000 individuals hold the Melania coin, according to the SolScan tracker for Solana-related cryptocurrencies.

The Melania coin’s introduction on Sunday resulted in a “notable decline in the value of” the Trump coin, raising concerns among crypto industry leaders about the potential impact of meme coins on the market, according to Forbes’ Siladitya Ray.

Rob Hadick, a partner at the crypto-focused venture-capital firm Dragonfly Capital, remarked to Bloomberg that the Trump launches are “a clear challenge that we need to navigate as developers.”

Defining a Meme Coin

Meme coins are types of cryptocurrency often inspired by internet memes, frequently reflecting trends from popular culture. One iconic meme featured the Japanese dog Kabosu, which became a sensation in the early 2010s.

In 2013, the dog’s image became the face of Dogecoin, which continues to be a popular cryptocurrency after gaining prominence as a “meme stock” during the retail trading surge amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Trump coin currently ranks as the 18th most valuable cryptocurrency on CoinMarketCap, while Dogecoin holds the 7th spot, and the Melania coin sits at 62nd position.

According to the website for the Melania Trump meme coin, 15% of the tokens are set aside for public distribution, while 35% is designated for the project’s “team.” The tokens are released by MKT World, a Florida-based company founded by Melania Trump in 2021, per Forbes.

After a 30-day period, 10% of the tokens allotted to the “team” will become available for access, and the total token distribution will occur over the next 13 months.

With an estimated total valuation of about $5 billion, the team’s share could be valued at approximately $1.5 billion.

Should You Invest in Melania or Trump Coin?

You can purchase the Melania meme coin using a debit card or other cryptocurrencies on their website.

However, if you’re considering making an investment, the Melania coin website cautions: “Melania Memes are intended only for collecting and entertainment. They are not financial instruments or investments. Always conduct your own research and invest only what you can afford to lose.”

This might just be the start of cryptocurrency launches during Trump’s term. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is expected to adopt a more crypto-friendly policy, and Trump is reportedly contemplating the establishment of a strategic bitcoin reserve, the first successful digital currency.

Additionally, the trend of crypto meme coins could expand, especially with other members of the Trump family potentially poised to enter the market.

Anthony Scaramucci, founder of Skybridge and former White House director of communications, expressed on X that the Trump meme coin situation is detrimental to the industry. He later added that the “launch of the Melania coin is negatively affecting Trump coin. I wonder which of the kids’ coins will be the most successful?”

Regarding these crypto coins, Reibstein stated, “It will be fascinating to observe how the regulators, appointed by the soon-to-be President Trump, will respond to this.”

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