The $MELANIA meme coin, endorsed by Melania Trump and launched on January 19, 2025, on the Solana blockchain, sparked a frenzy with its price surging 24,000% in 12 hours, peaking at $13.76. However, beneath the initial hype lie clear signs of a pump-and-dump scheme, leaving investors with significant losses. Tied to Hayden Davis, the project quickly drew scrutiny for its lack of transparency and market manipulation tactics.
The Pump-and-Dump Mechanics of $MELANIA Meme Coin
The pump-and-dump nature of $MELANIA meme coin is evident through several questionable practices:
- Token Sniping: Hayden Davis, the launch strategist, admitted to using bots to buy large amounts of $MELANIA upon smart contract activation, inflating prices and fueling FOMO.
- Liquidity Withdrawal: Data from Bubblemaps revealed $30 million in tokens moved from community funds to wallets linked to Davis, followed by sell-offs that crashed the price by -96% to $0.26 (April 14, 2025).
- Concentrated Supply: Initially, 89% of the supply was held in a single wallet, enabling the team to control and manipulate prices.
These actions not only tanked the meme coin’s value but also inflicted heavy losses on retail investors.
See the full chart here.
Hayden Davis’ Controversial Role
Hayden Davis, CEO of Kelsier Ventures, is at the center of criticism for $MELANIA. With a history of manipulating $LIBRA, a meme coin that collapsed after a $100 million liquidity pull, Davis employed similar tactics with $MELANIA. He justified sniping as a means to “protect prices” but provided no credible evidence, fueling suspicions of a deliberate pump-and-dump. Davis’ involvement has branded this meme coin as a potential scam.
Consequences and Warnings
The pump-and-dump saga of $MELANIA has eroded trust in politically themed meme coins. Investors should exercise caution:
- Verify the smart contract address before trading.
- Avoid FOMO during abnormal price spikes.
- Research the development team thoroughly, especially figures like Hayden Davis.
With its market cap now at $207 million, $MELANIA meme coin serves as a costly lesson on the dangers of pump-and-dump schemes in the crypto world.
Keep following this meme coin with our blog!
Don’t forget to check out meme coin trading on MevX, an all-in-one trading platform!
Scared of pump-and-dump meme coins, try Demo Mode to learn how to trade meme coins without fees first.
Share on Social Media:
