Is Barron Trump the brain behind $TRUMP memecoin? What you need to know

In January this year, US President Donald Trump launched his cryptocurrency, which quickly soared in value. His release of the meme coin, $Trump, came ahead of his high-stakes inauguration ceremony. The venture was co-ordinated by CIC Digital LLC - an affiliate of the Trump Organization - which has previously sold Trump-branded shoes and fragrances.

Meme coins are used to build popularity for a viral internet trend or movement, but they lack intrinsic value and are extremely volatile investments. Hours after its launch, the value of the coins for $Trump reached nearly $5.5bn (?4.5bn), according to CoinMarketCap.com.

Trump launched a cryptocurrency token featuring his 'fight fight fight' gesture from the July assassination attempt which surged 300 per cent within hours after the launch creating billions from thin air before his return. "My NEW Official Trump Meme is HERE! It's time to celebrate everything we stand for: WINNING!" Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social as he announced the meme coin.

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Trump's former aide Anthony Scaramucci said Trump's meme coin us 'Idi Amin level' corruption'. Idi Amind was a Ugandan dictator who was ousted in 1979 for corruption, according to TOI. "The Trump meme coin stuff is bad for the industry. Don't delude yourself. It's Idi Amin level corruption," he wrote.

Adding to the intrigue, Melania Trump also launched her cryptocurrency, $MELANIA, shortly after $TRUMP. While $MELANIA achieved a valuation of $7.4 billion at its peak, its launch briefly caused a dip in $TRUMP’s price.

Is Barron Trump behind Trump's memecoin?

$TRUMP was organized by CIC Digital LLC, an affiliate of the Trump organisation which has already been selling various other products, digital trading cards. CIC Digital LLC and Fight Fight Fight LLC, a company formed in Delaware in January, own 80% of the tokens that will be released gradually over three years with Trump-affiliated entities earning trading revenue.. It is unclear how much money Trump might make from the venture.

According to a report in TOI, Trump has always said how his youngest son Barron Trump is well-versed with crypto, triggering speculations whether this new memecoin is his brain child. Barron Trump, born in 2006, grew up in the limelight but has largely remained a private figure. 18-year-old Barron Trump holds an official position (DeFi visionary) in the Trumps' crypto startup World Liberty Financial. It's not known whether the $TRUMP has any association with the World Liberty Financial either.

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After spending his early years in New York City, he moved to Washington, D.C., when his father assumed the presidency in 2017. Unlike Donald’s older children, who were heavily involved in their father’s political career, Barron maintained a low profile, focusing on his education. He graduated from high school in 2024 and enrolled at New York University, where he continues to live at Trump Tower while pursuing his interests, including cryptocurrency. Whether Barron Trump was directly involved or not, the launch has cemented the family’s foray into the growing world of digital assets.

“GetTrumpMemes.com is not political and has nothing to do with any political campaign or any political office or governmental agency,” the venture’s website said. The legal disclosures say the tokens are not intended to be seen as “an investment opportunity, investment contract or security of any type.” Eric Trump said the $TRUMP was part of a new and growing business sector. “I am extremely proud of what we continue to accomplish in crypto,” Eric Trump said in a statement to The New York Times. “$Trump is currently the hottest digital meme on earth.” He added: “This is just the beginning.”

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Fake Barron Trump coin promoted

Meanwhile, in another news, the X account of the co-founder of the President Donald Trump-backed World Liberty Financial was hacked Wednesday to promote a fake meme coin associated with Barron Trump. World Liberty Financial confirmed that Zach Witkoff’s account was breached to shill the fraudulent cryptocurrency and warned users not to engage.

In a subsequent X post, Witkoff also revealed that his account was compromised but had been restored thanks to the work of X and the team. The hacked post stands deleted as of this writing. The hacking incidents follow the official coin launches by the President and First Lady Melania Trump last month, which engulfed the cryptocurrency industry in an unprecedented frenzy.