Skip to evidence
Tiny Red HandsSearch
Back

A group of anonymous traders scored a $100 million payday by buying Melania Trump's memecoin just before it launched publicly

FortuneMarco Quiroz-Gutierrez

Read original source

Reporting cited here

  1. documented

    The pre-announcement pattern is worth disclosing. Without further attribution it does not show that Melania Trump or her team controlled the wallets.

    Financial Times blockchain-analysis summary and wallet timing

    The MELANIA Pre-Announcement Wallet Pattern — Audit finding · Cited analysis

  2. documented

    The pre-announcement pattern is worth disclosing. Without further attribution it does not show that Melania Trump or her team controlled the wallets.

    Cashout estimate and identity limitations

    The MELANIA Pre-Announcement Wallet Pattern — Audit finding · Cited analysis

  3. reported

    Twenty-four wallets reportedly bought about $2.6 million of MELANIA within roughly two and a half minutes before the announcement.

    Financial Times blockchain-analysis summary and wallet timing

    The MELANIA Pre-Announcement Wallet Pattern — The record · The record

  4. reported

    Twenty-four wallets reportedly bought about $2.6 million of MELANIA within roughly two and a half minutes before the announcement.

    Cashout estimate and identity limitations

    The MELANIA Pre-Announcement Wallet Pattern — The record · The record

  5. estimate

    Fortune reported Financial Times blockchain analysis finding that 24 wallets bought $2.6 million of $MELANIA in the two and a half minutes before Melania Trump's January 19 announcement, cashed out $99.6 million as the price rose, and sold 81% of those holdings within twelve hours. Fortune reported a $13.73 January 20 peak and an approximately $0.32 May 7 price, a 98% decline.

    Financial Times blockchain analysis: 24 pre-announcement wallets, $2.6 million purchases, $99.6 million cash-out total, 81% sold within twelve hours, and January-to-May prices

    Pre-announcement $MELANIA wallets cashed out $99.6 million · 24 wallets tracked; $99.6 million cashed out; price 98% below peak by May 7

  6. reported

    The same reported wallet cluster cashed out approximately $99.6 million; attribution of most wallets remained unknown.

    Cashout estimate and identity limitations

    The MELANIA Pre-Announcement Wallet Pattern — Outcome · Outcome