Two wallets tied to the Melania Trump meme coin received $1.2 million in MET tokens from Meteora’s airdrop, igniting controversy over potential ties to alleged scam operations. This event highlights ongoing concerns in the crypto space about token distributions and accountability, as detailed in recent on-chain data.
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Melania-linked wallets melania-liquidity1.sol and melania-liquidity2.sol pocketed $784,200 and $454,724 in MET tokens, per SolScan data.
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These addresses are associated with the Official Melania Meme entity on Arkham Intelligence, raising questions about airdrop eligibility.
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The incident coincides with a class action lawsuit accusing Meteora’s former co-founder of involvement in rug-pull tokens like MELANIA, which crashed 99% after launch, according to court filings.
Meteora airdrop to Melania wallets sparks outrage: $1.2M in MET tokens distributed amid scam lawsuits. Explore the details, implications for crypto investors, and what it means for token launches. Stay updated on secure DeFi practices today.
What Is the Meteora Airdrop Controversy Involving Melania Trump Meme Coin Wallets?
The Meteora airdrop controversy centers on two Solana-based wallets connected to the MELANIA meme coin receiving over $1.2 million in MET tokens on October 23, 2025. These distributions occurred shortly after Meteora’s co-founder stepped down amid allegations of orchestrating fraudulent token launches. On-chain analysis from platforms like SolScan reveals the wallets quickly transferred the funds to other addresses, amplifying suspicions in the crypto community about oversight in airdrop mechanisms.
The event underscores broader issues in decentralized finance, where meme coins like MELANIA—launched in association with Melania Trump’s promotion—experienced extreme volatility, surging to a $7 billion market cap before plummeting 99% to $80 million. Investors have filed class action lawsuits claiming manipulation, naming former Meteora leadership and partners like Kelsier Ventures as key players.
Why Did Melania-Linked Wallets Receive the Meteora MET Airdrop?
Meteora, a legitimate automated market maker on Solana, distributed MET tokens to reward liquidity providers and early participants in its ecosystem. However, the inclusion of wallets labeled as melania-liquidity1.sol and melania-liquidity2.sol—totaling $1.23 million in value—has drawn scrutiny. According to Arkham Intelligence, these are part of the Official Melania Meme entity, tied to the January 2025 launch of the MELANIA token following President Trump’s own meme coin debut.
The airdrop timing is particularly contentious, coming just a day after court documents implicated Benjamin Chow, Meteora’s former co-founder, in a scheme involving at least 15 tokens, including MELANIA, LIBRA, and ENRON, all of which crashed post-launch. Investors allege these operations ran parallel to Meteora’s core business, exploiting its reputation. Chow resigned citing a “lack of judgment,” as stated by co-founder Meow, but the airdrop to implicated wallets suggests gaps in vetting processes.
Meteora’s co-lead Soju addressed concerns on social media, noting collaborations with on-chain investigators like Dethective and anti-scam tools such as Rugcheck to exclude malicious actors. Despite these efforts, the MELANIA wallets apparently qualified based on prior liquidity provision activities. Soju emphasized that wallets linked to another controversial token, LIBRA, were blocked from receiving tokens, highlighting selective enforcement. MET’s market cap now stands at $263.2 million, ranking it 269th among cryptocurrencies per CoinGecko data, with many recipients praising the smooth claim process.
Community backlash has been swift. On X (formerly Twitter), users like @retardmode posted, “everyone thank meteora for giving hayden davis another $1,500,000 melania wallets cashed out thru OKX,” referring to Hayden Davis of Kelsier Ventures. Another observer quipped, “Why is Hayden Davis getting a MET airdrop? You have to be kidding me.” These sentiments reflect fears of recycled funds from past rug pulls fueling new ventures.
Further complicating matters, three wallets connected to the President Trump meme coin team received $4.2 million in MET, ranking among the top recipients. Arkham Intelligence tracked these addresses depositing tokens to OKX exchange, obscuring further on-chain visibility. While not facing lawsuits, the Trump coin has faced political scrutiny over conflicts of interest and foreign influence allegations.
Expert Kyle Trimble, head of business development at Delphi Digital, commented on X, “that lawsuit is gonna disappear [real quick] innit,” suggesting potential swift resolutions or cover-ups. On-chain analytics firm Bubblemaps previously linked MELANIA to a failed meme coin promoted by Argentinian President Javier Milei in February 2025, bolstering fraud claims in the ongoing racketeering lawsuit.
This airdrop episode serves as a cautionary tale for DeFi participants, emphasizing the need for robust due diligence. Meteora’s initiatives, while innovative, expose vulnerabilities when historical bad actors evade filters, potentially eroding trust in token incentive programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Role Did Meteora’s Former Co-Founder Play in the MELANIA Meme Coin Launch?
Benjamin Chow, Meteora’s former co-founder, is accused in court filings of masterminding the MELANIA launch alongside Kelsier Ventures as part of a broader “scam coin” operation. Investors claim he orchestrated at least 15 such tokens, which crashed after hype-driven pumps, leading to his resignation and a class action lawsuit for fraud and racketeering.
How Is Meteora Addressing Concerns Over the MET Airdrop to Controversial Wallets?
Meteora states it partnered with Dethective for on-chain sleuthing and Rugcheck for scam detection to prevent distributions to bad actors. Co-lead Soju noted that LIBRA-linked wallets were excluded, but MELANIA addresses slipped through due to legitimate prior activity. The team has not yet commented further on the specific incident.
Key Takeaways
- Airdrop Oversight Gaps: Despite vetting tools, wallets tied to alleged scams like MELANIA received $1.2 million in MET, underscoring the challenges in tracing liquidity provider histories on Solana.
- Lawsuit Implications: Ongoing class actions against former Meteora leaders highlight risks of parallel operations mimicking legitimate projects, with tokens like MELANIA crashing 99% post-launch.
- Community and Market Impact: While MET’s distribution was praised for efficiency, controversies could pressure its $263 million market cap; investors should prioritize transparent ecosystems to avoid similar entanglements.
Conclusion
The Meteora airdrop to Melania wallets exemplifies the precarious balance between innovation and accountability in crypto token launches. With MET airdrop controversy fueling debates on scam prevention, platforms must refine detection methods to protect users from recycled illicit gains. As DeFi evolves, staying vigilant against such vulnerabilities will be crucial for sustainable growth—consider auditing your portfolio’s exposure to meme coin ecosystems today for informed decision-making.
