A progressive watchdog group is calling for an investigation into whether President Donald Trump’s promotion of a meme coin violated federal law. In a complaint filed on Wednesday, Public Citizen asked the Department of Justice and the Office of Government Ethics to look into Trump’s repost on X in January of a cryptocurrency coin that

The launch of $TRUMP and $MELANIA crypto coins has disappointed some in the crypto industry, who fear they amplify the sector’s sillier and scammier side.

First Lady Melania Trump launched her own meme-coin on the eve of the inauguration, which now has a value of $700m since slumping from $13 a coin to $2.70. But many meme-coins have led to big losses for people investing in them.

The launch of the Trump token, which hit a $15 billion valuation, rides the trend and raises questions. Axios reporter Brady Dale explains what a meme coin is and what owners can actually do with them.

Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy organization, has called for a federal investigation into whether U.S. President Donald Trump had violated laws around gift solicitation by promoting a meme coin. The organization lodged its complaint with the Department of Justice and the U.