• Haliey Welch, a viral internet sensation, has launched her official cryptocurrency token on the Solana blockchain
• This marks the latest addition to the growing trend of celebrity tokens debuting on decentralized platforms
• The Birth of a Viral Sensation Haliey Welch became an internet sensation
Haliey Welch, a viral internet sensation, has launched her official cryptocurrency token on the Solana blockchain. This marks the latest addition to the growing trend of celebrity tokens debuting on decentralized platforms.
The Birth of a Viral Sensation
Haliey Welch became an internet sensation earlier this year thanks to a viral moment involving the phrase “hawk tuah,” an onomatopoeic description of a sexual act. The phrase quickly morphed into a meme that spread like wildfire across social media platforms. Welch’s meteoric rise took her from an ordinary minimum-wage worker with no Instagram account to a household name in meme culture.
HAWK Token Goes Live on Solana
The “hawk tuah” meme has now made its way to the blockchain. Welch’s HAWK token officially launched on Solana-based exchanges at 22:00 UTC on Wednesday, facilitated by the token launchpad overHere. In its initial minutes of trading, HAWK’s market cap skyrocketed to $491 million, only to plummet below $100 million shortly thereafter.
The token’s launch was preceded by a week-long distribution campaign (Nov. 26–Dec. 2), during which Welch handed out free HAWK tokens to her social media followers and supporters within the meme and NFT communities.
Building a Sustainable Token Ecosystem
In a statement shared with CoinDesk, Welch revealed that her tokens are subject to a vesting schedule: she cannot sell her personal holdings for one year, and they will vest over three years. This structure reflects her commitment to creating a sustainable project rather than riding the wave of fleeting internet fame.
“Who doesn’t love a good meme?” Welch commented. “Meme culture drew me into the world of crypto, and launching my own token feels like the perfect way to give back to my fans while protecting them from scammers.”
The HAWK token is backed by a Cayman Islands-based foundation, ensuring full legal compliance in the U.S. and benefiting from private, non-U.S. investors who contributed to its $34.5 million initial valuation.
A New Chapter for Celebrity Tokens
The Solana blockchain experienced a boom of celebrity tokens earlier this year, particularly during a frenzied period in May. Many of these tokens, released by niche or lesser-known artists through platforms like Pump.Fun, saw their value collapse by 99% within days or even hours of launch.
However, Welch’s team insists that HAWK is not a flash-in-the-pan project. They are committed to building a lasting community around the token, leveraging Welch’s influence to foster meaningful engagement with her fan base.
Protecting Fans and Fighting Scammers
Jonnie Forster, Welch’s manager, emphasized the importance of the HAWK token in protecting her community from fraudulent schemes: “Launching the $HAWK token creates a fun, secure, and innovative way for Haliey to connect with her community. It empowers her fans while eliminating the confusion caused by unauthorized coins exploiting her name and likeness.”
Conclusion
Haliey Welch’s journey from viral meme to blockchain innovator highlights the intersection of internet culture and decentralized finance. With a focus on sustainability and fan engagement, the HAWK token aims to break free from the pitfalls that have plagued celebrity tokens in the past, creating a unique opportunity for community building in the world of crypto. Whether or not this is for the better or worse is yet to be seen.
