Nairobi (CoinChapter.com) - The launch of the Trump Official (TRUMP) and Melania Official (MELANIA) memecoins has sparked controversy, with lawsuits expected against the tokens and their creators. Amid growing legal scrutiny, the price of TRUMP has fallen sharply and is currently trading at $36.52, down $11.95% from the previous day.
Memecoins, profits, and conflicts of interest
James Thurber, former director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, accused Trump of profiting from pro-cryptocurrency policies. He called these actions a "clear conflict of interest," arguing that they enrich Trump's family while shaping the national cryptocurrency discussion.
Cryptocurrency analyst Ryan Lee noted that Trump has attracted new investors into the cryptocurrency space. However, more than 570,000 wallets reportedly suffered losses, while only 330,000 were profitable. Trump's fluctuating wealth has caused many to question its viability as an investment.
Trump Memecoin: Legal Ambiguities and Potential Litigation
Legal expert Aaron Brogan and others have argued that memecoins can often escape regulatory scrutiny because they lack utility and are not tied to development projects. However, cryptocurrency attorney Preston Byrne predicts that Trump will face a wave of lawsuits.
Byrne believes that the project’s terms of service — especially the arbitration clause — may protect it from being sued by first-time buyers. However, secondary market token holders may argue that they are not bound by these terms, paving the way for legal action. Byrne predicts that civil lawsuits will “100 percent” emerge within two months.
Josh Lawler highlighted a broader regulatory challenge, questioning whether memecoins like TRUMP should face stricter regulation.Without a clear investment value or functionality, TRUMP remains in a legal gray area.
Political and legal implications
These potential lawsuits are likely to have limited practical results. Constitutional protections and Trump’s carefully crafted legal defenses could make it difficult to hold him accountable. Cryptocurrency attorney Aaron Brogan noted that while civil lawsuits may proceed, they are unlikely to cause lasting damages.
Trump’s influence on cryptocurrency regulation could also complicate efforts to regulate politically sensitive tokens. Preston Byrne observed that TRUMP’s market performance could serve as a barometer of U.S. political sentiment, reflecting not only financial trends but also social divisions.
The legal and political future of Trump-related memecoins remains uncertain. While litigation seems inevitable, the outcome may simply be political theater.