Market
Public Citizen Calls for DOJ Probe into Trump’s Meme Coin
Government watchdog group Public Citizen has filed a formal complaint with the Department of Justice and the Office of Government Ethics regarding President Donald Trump’s launch of meme coins.
The group is urging an investigation into whether Trump violated federal laws by promoting and soliciting money for his Official Trump meme coin.
The complaint, submitted on Wednesday, cites social media posts from Trump on both X (formerly Twitter) and Truth Social. According to the submission, the US president used these platforms to promote the TRUMP coin and encouraged supporters to send money.
Further, Public Citizen alleges these posts were re-shared on January 20 and January 21, shortly after Trump was inaugurated. The group argues that this constitutes a potential violation of federal laws prohibiting the president from soliciting personal gifts.
“A president soliciting money from the general public for his personal enrichment would be a reprehensible abuse of the presidency. The Department of Justice and Office of Government Ethics owe it to the American people to thoroughly investigate whether Donald Trump’s solicitation is in violation of the law, and, if it is, take appropriate action to stop it,” an excerpt in the report read, citing Bartlett Naylor, a financial services advocate at Public Citizen.
The complaint also calls out Trump’s official website for the meme coin for stating that contributions to the project are purely in exchange for a digital receipt. According to the advocacy group, this suggests that the money received is not tied to any tangible product or service.
Public citizens are concerned that the funds collected may directly benefit Trump, potentially breaching federal ethics laws. Additionally, the complaint raises constitutional concerns.
Notably, the US Constitution forbids any president from accepting money or items of value from foreign sources. Given crypto transactions’ decentralized and anonymous nature, it isn’t easy to ascertain whether foreign state actors are purchasing Trump’s meme coin.
According to the complaint, this creates possible national security and foreign policy risks.
Previous Calls for Investigation Into TRUMP Meme Coin
The latest complaint follows mounting scrutiny over Trump-affiliated cryptocurrencies. Two weeks ago, Senator Elizabeth Warren called for federal scrutiny of the TRUMP and MELANIA meme coins. As BeInCrypto reported, she warned of potential regulatory and ethical violations.
Around the same time, Democrats demanded an ethics probe into Trump’s involvement in meme coin-related financial dealings. They cited concerns about his association with World Liberty Financial.
“The expanding scope of President Trump—and by extension The Trump Organization’s—financial entanglements and quid pro quo promises are troubling,” wrote US Representative Gerald Connolly.
Despite these growing concerns, Trump recently denied knowledge of the meme coin. However, the denial came amid significant market fluctuations in the coin’s value, adding further speculation about his level of involvement.
Nevertheless, public interest in the TRUMP meme coin has surged. A recent survey found that over 40% of TRUMP meme coin holders are first-time investors, illustrating the coin’s strong appeal among inexperienced traders. At the same time, World Liberty Financial (WLFI), Trump’s DeFi venture, has experienced a dramatic rise in token sales following the launch of the TRUMP meme coin.
Further analysis of blockchain transactions has also revealed concerning centralization issues. A recent Chainalysis report found that 94% of TRUMP and MELANIA tokens are held by just 40 wallets. This raises questions about potential price manipulation and insider advantages.
Beyond ethical and regulatory concerns, Trump’s meme coin launch has also prompted discussions about its legal and tax implications. Cryptocurrency experts warn that such a venture could carry significant tax liabilities for Trump and investors.
Moreover, if the investigation finds that Trump’s meme coin solicitation violates federal law, the Public Citizen’s complaint suggests immediate action. These may include terminating the sale, refunding the money, and implementing additional penalties.
The Department of Justice and the Office of Government Ethics have yet to respond to the filing.
Disclaimer
In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
Market
XRP Holders On The Path To Millionaire Status
A market expert has boldly proclaimed that all XRP holders might ultimately become millionaires.
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Based on a historical study of XRP’s price movement in 2017, this assertion makes the implication that the altcoin is set for a similar bull run. For many XRP community members, crypto analyst Steph’s viewpoint offers a ray of hope despite current turbulence.
This positive view is challenged, though, by current market dynamics—including the asset’s recent 22% weekly decline.
XRP: Historical Parallels With 2017 Surge
Steph’s optimistic predictions are largely based on the performance of XRP during the 2017-2018 bull run. In that period, the altcoin saw a meteoric rise, increasing by 802% from March to May 2017.
This surge followed a relatively quiet period, with the coin initially lagging behind other cryptocurrencies. XRP has once more exhibited remarkable increase fast forward to 2024, rising by nearly 570% from November 2024 to a top of $3.4 in January 2025.
All #XRP holders will become millionaires.
No exceptions. pic.twitter.com/zoLebdj8um
— STEPH IS CRYPTO (@Steph_iscrypto) February 5, 2025
If history is any indication, Steph thinks the altcoin is only halfway toward its expected ascent. According to the analyst’s examination, a second ascent might drive the asset considerably higher, maybe reflecting the price movement registered in 2017.
The Road To $50,000 Per Token
Many XRP holders wonder if such a rally will turn them into millionaires. The study indicates that, although still rather hypothetical, there is a big possibility. For instance, the price per token would have to be $50,000 if one wanted a 20 XRP ownership to be worth $1 million.
In the same vein, a 500 XRP-holder would need the price to reach $2,000 to make their holdings worth $1 million. Although these figures are staggering, they show the significant influence a large surge could have on portfolios of holders. However, whether such price levels are realistic is still uncertain.
Deviation From 2017 Path: A New Fractal?
Not every researcher shares Steph’s hope. Examining XRP’s present price movement closely reveals some variations from the 2017 trend. XRP dropped significantly from its January high of $3.4, lately falling below $3.
In my opinion, 2017 is now irrelevant
I see many trying to pinpoint comparison to 2017 still, I think it’s a waste of time
The fractal has broken. We are in a new era and game now…
Sometime the rear view helps, but not anymore IMO pic.twitter.com/03ePoONaNV
— Dom (@traderview2) February 4, 2025
Analyst Dom has claimed that XRP might not go the same route as it did in 2017, suggesting a fractured fractal. Should this be the case, the cryptocurrency may be on a fresh path where future expansion is not correlated with historical price trends.
Related Reading
Market Volatility: Change In Trend Or A Regular Setback?
In spite of these anomalies, XRP has a long-term bright future. Recent price swings of the asset are considered as normal ebb and flow of the market. Correction times are expected, as with any high-growth asset.
At $2.44 right now, XRP dropped almost 4% over the past 24 hours. Still, experts remain optimistic since the asset has great room for expansion.
Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView
Market
Binance’s CZ Sparks TST Meme Coin Frenzy, Traders Reap Huge
Binance founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) inadvertently triggered a trading frenzy around a test token, TST. Interestingly, One lucky trader turned $35,000 into nearly $700,000, representing gains of almost 1,900%.
The news centers around Four.meme, which advertises as the first meme coin fair launch platform on Binance Smart Chain (BSC).
Binance’s CZ Claims Accidental Exposure
The incident stemmed from an educational video made by the BNB team demonstrating how to launch a meme token on the Four.meme platform. However, it resulted in an unexpected surge in the test token TST’s market capitalization.
Changpeng Zhao took to social media platform X (Twitter) to clarify how TST gained traction. He cited a now-deleted video tutorial posted on the Four.meme platform.
“In this video, we launched a token named TST as the example….,” CZ explained, citing a BNB Chain team member.
Following an accidental reveal by the BNB team, members of the Chinese crypto community identified the token and began actively trading and promoting it. CZ emphasized that neither he nor Binance exchange holds any of the tokens.
“This is NOT an endorsement from me for the token…no one on the team (or Binance) holds any of that token. This is NOT an official token by the BNB Chain team or anyone. It is a test token used just for that video tutorial,” he articulated.
Reportedly, a team member also deleted the private key for the tutorial wallet. However, this did little to stop speculators from jumping in, sending TST’s market cap to nearly $500,000 within hours.
Crypto analyst Ai shed light on an intriguing transaction. A trader, identified by the wallet address 0xeBB…74711c, purchased $35,000 worth of TST just minutes before CZ’s tweet. As the hype built up, the trader’s holdings skyrocketed to a floating profit of $657,000—a staggering 1,885% return. Ai speculated whether this was pure luck or if the trader had inside knowledge about the video leak.
“Lucky/smart money 0xeBB…74711c happened to open a position of 35,000 USD in tokens five minutes before CZ tweeted TST, andnow has a floating profit of 657,000 USD, with a return rate of 1885%! After CZ tweeted, he quickly added 2 BNB. He currently holds 28.82 million TST, making him the top 1 address. I am also impressed by his luck,” Ai remarked.
Adding to the speculation, crypto user 0xSun suggested that the address could be linked to a Binance Chain team member. This speculation fueled suspicions of potential insider trading.
Elliot’s Crypto, another industry veteran, pointed out that BNB community members saw an opportunity, piling in on the trade and fueling a meme-driven price surge.
“Let’s send it for the culture of BNB memes… I mean there could be huge opportunity on these levels. I had just a small bag at dip and still holding…it’s shared by BNB chain first on the video but community found the cat,” the user noted.
Meanwhile, CZ insists that the TST token was purely for demonstration purposes. Nevertheless, the incident reflects his and other industry leaders’ immense influence. Even an unintentional mention can send markets into a frenzy, reinforcing how unpredictable and volatile crypto markets remain.
Data on Gecko Terminal shows that TST remains well above its debut price with a market cap of $15.1 million at press time, but the price action shows continued profit booking.
Rise of Token Launchpads and Regulatory Scrutiny
Notably, Four.meme is a BNB chain-based platform that allows users to easily create and launch meme coins. It comes amid a growing trend of token launchpads, which enable users to easily create and launch new cryptocurrencies.
The launchpad joins an already competitive space. Players such as Solana’s Pump.fun, Tron’s SunPump and PancakeSwap’s SpringBoard are already in the market, lowering the barriers for token creation and fostering an explosion of meme coins.
However, the increasing popularity of these platforms has drawn regulatory scrutiny. The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) recently warned against Pump.fun. BeInCrypto reported that the regulator cautioned that it may be operating in violation of financial laws.
Additionally, Pump.fun has faced backlash for enabling harmful live streams. Here, bad actors exploited the platform to mislead and manipulate retail investors.
As token launchpads continue to grow, regulatory oversight is expected to increase. Authorities seek to prevent manipulation and protect investors from bad actors.
Disclaimer
In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
Market
PEPE Struggles Against Strong Resistance, Bearish Pressure Intensify
PEPE price is facing renewed bearish pressure as it struggles to break above the critical $0.00001152 resistance level. The recent failure to push higher has left the token consolidating, hinting at a possible downward move if buyers fail to regain control. With market sentiment tilting in favor of the bears, traders are bracing for what could be another wave of selling.
If bulls cannot generate enough momentum, PEPE may slip further, testing lower support zones in the coming sessions. The battle between buyers and sellers at this level will be crucial in determining the token’s next major move.
PEPE Consolidation Near Resistance: A Breakdown Or Rebound?
Pepe’s price action remains trapped in a consolidation phase just below a crucial resistance level, indicating market indecision. Its recent failed breakout attempt highlights the strength of sellers in this zone, preventing bullish momentum from taking over. As the price struggles to push higher, the risk of a potential breakdown increases, especially if bearish pressure intensifies.
The price continues to trade below the 4-hour Simple Moving Average (SMA), reflecting that the meme coin is still under negative pressure. This price action suggests that the market sentiment remains tilted toward the downside, as the failure to break above the SMA highlights a lack of buying strength.
Furthermore, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is trending below the 50% threshold, further supporting the bearish outlook. Usually, the RSI’s position below this key level indicates that the selling pressure is currently stronger than the buying, with the market leaning more toward the downside.
Further downward movement remains high until the price can break through the 4-hour SMA and the RSI sustains a move below the 50% key level.
Crucial Support Zones In Focus As Selling Pressure Rises
With selling pressure mounting in the market, $0.00000766 is the initial support level to watch. Historically, this level has proven to be a critical price point, acting as a psychological and technical barrier. If the price can maintain above this level, it could signal that buyers are still holding the line, offering a potential for stabilization or even a rebound.
Should selling pressure persist, the $0.00000589 mark will be the next key area to watch. This support level represents a deeper point of defense for PEPE, and its ability to hold might be crucial for preventing a more significant downturn. A drop below $0.00000589 would be concerning, as it can expose the price to a possible extension of the bearish trend, causing traders to reevaluate their positions.
However, if the price remains above the $0.00000766 level, it may pave the way for a surge toward the $0.00001152 resistance level as buyers remain in control. A break above this level points to further gains, with the price targeting $0.00001313 and moving above the 100-day SMA.
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