Table of Contents

With much fanfare, former MMA superstar Conor McGregor recently announced the launch of his own memecoin, REAL. But now, the project has been officially called off. According to a statement released by the team behind the token, the minimum funding target was not met, and therefore the launch will not proceed.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is REAL! https://t.co/uhBgjAHotX

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 6, 2025

Disappointment With a Hint of Hope

There is at least one silver lining: all investors will receive full refunds. But this might not be the final chapter. The announcement ended on a slightly optimistic note, with the team stating,

“We need to be real. This is not the end.”

Whether this will be enough to restore confidence in McGregor’s future crypto ventures remains to be seen.

Bad Timing for a Bold Launch

The failure to launch REAL couldn’t have come at a worse moment. The entire crypto market is in freefall, largely triggered by Donald Trump’s escalating trade war. In such an environment, memecoins are hardly investor favorites.

Even before the recent downturn, meme tokens have had a tough time gaining trust. Following a series of high-profile scandals, investor confidence in memecoins has taken a serious hit.

Scandals Still Fresh in the Market’s Memory

Consider the infamous LIBRA token scandal, where Argentine President Javier Milei was reportedly involved. After promoting the project enthusiastically on social media, it turned out to be a classic rug pull, leaving thousands of investors with empty wallets.

Then came the highly discussed Hawk-Tuah token, where countless people also lost money. So, who actually profits from these meme projects? In most cases, the developers, who cash out early and disappear, leaving the community to pick up the pieces.

McGregor’s Promise of Transparency

McGregor had positioned REAL as a different kind of celebrity token.

“No bullshit celeb token,” he told Cointelegraph in an official statement.

REAL was envisioned as part of a larger ecosystem where token holders would receive staking rewards and, more importantly, governance rights. This setup aimed to give the community a real say in the direction of the project.

The launch was supposed to use a sealed-bid auction model—a structure designed to prevent manipulation by bots and opportunistic investors, ensuring a fair and transparent token distribution.

Conclusion: Is This the End or Just Round One?

While the cancellation of the REAL token marks a clear setback for McGregor’s crypto ambitions, the messaging suggests the team is not ready to throw in the towel just yet. In a market dominated by skepticism and scandal, however, regaining trust won’t be easy.

Only time will tell if McGregor can return to the ring—this time, the crypto arena—and deliver a token that truly lives up to the hype.

Author
Recent Posts

Madeline

I have been drawn to technology and science fiction since I was a child. Studying IT has drawn me to the world of cryptocurrencies, where I have been working since 2014. I have learned a lot since then. And I still have a lot to learn. What fascinates me most about them is that they connect so many worlds together and the possibility of free choice. Without limits.