Haliey Welch, the internet personality known for her viral TikTok stardom, has spoken publicly for the first time about her connection to the now-defunct HAWK meme coin. Once hailed as the next big crypto sensation, $HAWK surged to a staggering $500 million market cap before collapsing almost overnight.
The fallout has raised critical questions about influencer-driven cryptocurrencies, rug pulls, and the volatile nature of meme coins in the Web3 era.
What Was the HAWK Meme Coin?
The HAWK meme coin launched in early 2025 amid a wave of celebrity and influencer-backed tokens. Branded with imagery of Haliey Welch and marketed as a “community coin for free thinkers,” $HAWK promised utility, hype, and fast returns.
Key Features Promised
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Community voting for features and charities
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NFT airdrops for early adopters
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Welch-branded metaverse collaborations
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Claims of future CEX listings
The initial buzz—fueled by Welch’s cryptic posts and reposts from crypto influencers—sent the coin into viral orbit.
The Rise: From Launch to $500 Million
Within days of launch, the HAWK meme coin:
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Trended on Crypto Twitter and Reddit
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Amassed over 100,000 wallet holders
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Hit $500M in fully diluted market cap
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Became a top 10 meme token by volume
Its meteoric rise was attributed to a “perfect storm”: influencer marketing, meme virality, and a bull market hungry for new narratives.
Welch’s Role in the Pump
Though Welch never directly called for purchases, her likeness was central to the token’s branding. Social media sleuths discovered she had received a significant allocation of tokens before launch, raising concerns about insider advantages and front-running retail investors.
The Fall: What Went Wrong?
Just one week after reaching its all-time high, HAWK’s price plummeted by over 96%, wiping out millions in investor value.
Contributing Factors
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Mass token dump from top wallets
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No working product or utility release
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Liquidity locked only for 7 days
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Token deployer’s wallet linked to prior scams
As trust evaporated, investors rushed for the exit. Liquidity dried up, and $HAWK became another cautionary tale in the meme coin world.
Haliey Welch Responds
Following weeks of silence, Welch addressed the controversy via a candid Instagram Live and a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
“I’m not a crypto expert. I was approached about a creative project and didn’t understand the full impact. I never wanted anyone to get hurt financially.”
Key Takeaways from Her Statement
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She did not create the token, but agreed to lend her image
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Claimed she never sold her allocation
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Apologized to anyone who lost money
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Promised to be more cautious with partnerships
The statement received mixed reactions—some fans accepted the apology, while others accused her of naïveté or complicity.
Legal and Regulatory Ramifications
Though no official charges have been filed, the SEC and FTC are reportedly reviewing the case as part of broader investigations into celebrity crypto endorsements.
Potential Legal Consequences
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Misleading advertising
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Unregistered securities
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Failure to disclose paid promotions
This comes after high-profile enforcement actions against Kim Kardashian, Jake Paul, and others for similar activity.
The Rise and Fall of Influencer Coins
The HAWK meme coin is not the first of its kind. A growing number of meme tokens launched with celebrity endorsements have ended in disaster:
| Coin | Celebrity | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| $TITS | Mia Khalifa | Abandoned after 2 months |
| $PAWS | Logan Paul | Project shut down after rug pull claims |
| $LUV | Blac Chyna | Still under FTC review |
These patterns reveal a troubling trend of celebrity tokens lacking transparency, accountability, and longevity.
What Investors Should Learn
The collapse of the HAWK meme coin offers a powerful lesson:
Hype does not equal value.
Tips to Avoid Meme Coin Traps
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Check tokenomics: Is the supply capped? Is liquidity locked?
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Verify wallets: Use tools like Etherscan to track team movements
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Avoid tokens with no real use-case
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Watch for red flags: Sudden influencer involvement often signals exit liquidity
Community Fallout and Memes
The crypto community, ever irreverent, has turned the HAWK crash into meme fuel:
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“HAWKlipsed” — term for instant token collapse
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“HODL with Welch” — sarcastic sticker circulating on Discord
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$HAWK NFTs being resold as collectibles of failure
While tragic for investors, these memes underscore how crypto culture processes disaster with humor and skepticism.
Conclusion
The story of the HAWK meme coin—from viral rise to epic fall—highlights the dangers of influencer-led crypto projects and the importance of due diligence. While Haliey Welch may not have orchestrated the fraud, her involvement sparked a frenzy that ended in financial pain for thousands.
As meme coins continue to evolve, the crypto world must ask: are we investing in ideas—or just personalities?
🔗 External References
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CoinDesk Coverage of HAWK Collapse
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Decrypt on Influencer Crypto Scandals