What happened in Conor McGregor's failed meme coin launch?

Advertisement
We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
One-off amount
I already contribute
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Investigates
Investigates
Money Diaries
Property Magazine
Allianz Home Magazine
The 42 Sports Magazine
The Journal TV
Climate Crisis
Cost of Living
Road Safety
Newsletters
Temperature Check
Inside the Newsroom
The Journal Investigates
The Explainer
A deep dive into one big news story
Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture
have your say
Or create a free account to join the discussion
Advertisement
More Stories
McGregor at the White House last Stock Photo
What happened in Conor McGregor's failed meme coin launch?
He launched $REAL over the weekend, but all bids have since been refunded.
12.28pm, 9 Apr 2025
Share options
CONOR MCGREGOR LAUNCHED a meme coin on Saturday with a vow to “change” the cryptocurrency game.
The MMA fighter unveiled his $REAL meme coin – a cryptocurrency that is designed to capitalise on the popularity of a personality, movement or viral internet trend – on 5 April. The token was developed by gaming platform Real World Gaming DAO (RWG).
On Saturday, a sealed-bid auction – which allows people to place bids for a specific number of tokens at their preferred price – was launched, with $60 million $REAL tokens (3% of the two billion token supply) up for grabs at $0.06 per token.
The goal during the 28-hour pre-sale auction was to raise $3.6 million, with a $1.008 million minimum requirement.
I changed the FIGHT game.
I changed the WHISKEY game.
I changed the STOUT game.
Now it’s time to change the CRYPTO game.
This is just the beginning.
This is $REAL @getrealtoken /imoAYwY8D1— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 5, 2025
But the coin raised just $392,315 from 668 bidders, or 39% of the minimum raise.
On Sunday night, RWG announced that the launch had been paused and that all bids made would be refunded to investors.
“We need to be real. We didn’t hit our minimum raise,” they said on social media, adding: “This is not the end.”
The platform later confirmed that all refunds had been issued.
We need to be real.
We didn't hit our minimum raise.
All bids will be refunded in full.
This is not the end.— Real World Gaming (@getrealtoken) April 6, 2025
Advertisement
McGregor is not the first high-profile figure to launch their own meme coin. Donald and Melania Trump, Brazil football legend Ronaldinho and right-wing influencer and self-confessed misogynist Andrew Tate have all launched their own tokens in recent months.
So what went wrong?
Well, aside from not raising enough money, a spokesperson for RWG told media outlet Decrypt that the pause was down to “challenging macroeconomic conditions” and the “distracting nature of the meme narrative”.
The broader crypto market has seen widespread losses in the wake of Trump’s controversial tariff plans, as US markets continue to react amid the global uncertainty.
The US stock market has lost over $10 trillion in value since the tariff announcement last Wednesday. On Monday, popular meme coins such as Dogecoin and Shiba Inu posted double-digit losses in the midst of the unpredictability.
Another factor that could have contributed to the coin’s failure is McGregor’s own popularity.
In November last year, he was deemed liable for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel in December 2018 after a three-week civil trial at the High Court. He is currently appealing this verdict.
His apparent campaign to run in the Presidential election later this year has also been met with rejection from politicians and the public.
A survey conducted by Sky News last month saw 134 members of the Oireachtas – which is made up of 174 TDs in the Dáil and 60 senators in the Seanad (234 members total) – say that they would not be nominating him for the Áras.
All members were asked, but only 134 responded – all saying no.
A Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll also found that just 7% of the public would vote for McGregor if he ran for public office.
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Support The Journal
Send Tip or Correction
Embed this post
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Email “What happened in Conor McGregor's failed meme coin launch?”.
Recipient's Email
Feedback on “What happened in Conor McGregor's failed meme coin launch?”.
Your Feedback
Your Email (optional)
Report a Comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment.
Please give full details of the problem with the comment...
Conor McGregor
cryptocurrency
News in 60 seconds
China retaliates with 84% levy on US goods as Trump says pharma tariffs coming 'very shortly'
17 mins ago
‘GAA Catfish’ case struck out as Dublin school ends disciplinary proceedings against teacher
23 mins ago
land development agency
Almost 15,000 homes could be built in the short term on state-owned land, LDA finds
57 mins ago
EU response
Orange juice in and whiskey out as EU prepares Trump tariff retaliation package
Motorist clocked at 153km/h on M7 among 125 speeding detections made so far on Slow Down Day
The Daily Poll
Do you feel safe on nights out?
get in line
Universal Studios unveils plans for first ever theme park and resort in Europe
Wilson's Hospital School
School will ask for Enoch Burke to be jailed if he disrupts State exams or shows up next year
Peter Navarro
White House slaps 104% tariffs on China as Elon Musk calls Trump trade advisor a 'moron'
China retaliates with 84% levy on US goods as Trump says pharma tariffs coming 'very shortly'
17 mins ago
Probe launched as All-Ireland winner suffers 'broken jaw' in incident during football match
more from us
Investigates
Property Magazine
Allianz Home Magazine
The 42 Sports Magazine
Money Diaries
The Journal TV
Journal Media
Advertise With Us
About FactCheck
Our Network
FactCheck Knowledge Bank
Terms & Legal Notices
Terms of Use
Cookies & Privacy
Advertising
Competition
more from us
TV Listings
GAA Fixtures
The Video Review
Journal Media
Advertise With Us
Our Network
The Journal
FactCheck Knowledge Bank
Terms & Legal Notices
Terms of Use
Cookies & Privacy
Advertising
Competition