Hunter Biden to Launch Memecoin LAPTOP, Plans Token Distribution to TRUMP Holders — WSJ
Hunter Biden, son of former US President Joe Biden, announced the launch of a memecoin called $LAPTOP, inspired by the controversy surrounding his infamous laptop. Scheduled for a Wednesday rollout, 20% of the one-billion token supply will be sent to subscribers and investors of former President Donald Trump’s memecoin, Official Trump (TRUMP). The TRUMP token value has fallen about 97% since its all-time high in January 2025. This move comes amid growing criticism from Biden regarding the Trump family’s crypto industry ties.
Launch of LAPTOP Memecoin and Token Distribution
Hunter Biden announced on Monday via his X account the launch of a memecoin under the ticker $LAPTOP, set to go live on Wednesday. According to The Wall Street Journal, 20% of the total one billion tokens will be distributed to Substack subscribers, mailing list members, and investors in former President Donald Trump’s memecoin, Official Trump (TRUMP).
The TRUMP token has fallen roughly 97% from its peak in January 2025, enhancing the significance of this move amid memecoin competition.
Laptop Controversy and Political Undertones
The memecoin’s name references Hunter Biden’s laptop, which was heavily scrutinized in the media and politically charged ahead of the 2020 presidential election where Joe Biden faced Donald Trump.
The laptop remains a topic frequently invoked by right-wing media figures and was the subject of two privacy-related lawsuits filed by Hunter Biden.
Biden’s Criticism of Trump Family’s Crypto Business
Since his father’s departure from office in January 2025, Hunter Biden has intensified his criticism of the crypto and blockchain industry connections to the Trump family, particularly their World Liberty Financial business.
In August, he labeled World Liberty as corruption on an unprecedented scale, drawing comparisons with the collapse of crypto exchange FTX and highlighting ties to foreign governments such as the UAE. Earlier, in June, he labeled decentralized digital currency and blockchain as the inevitable future.
Token Burning Conditions and Future Plans
The LAPTOP founders will control 30% of the token supply and may burn up to 30% of the tokens depending on certain outcomes, including a Democrat winning the 2028 presidency, Bitcoin reaching a new all-time high, or LAPTOP’s fully diluted valuation surpassing that of TRUMP.
Regulatory Landscape and Market Implications
Amid these developments, the US Congress is preparing to consider comprehensive legislation aimed at regulating the digital asset industry — the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, or CLARITY Act. A cloture vote in the Senate is scheduled for September 15.
The launch of LAPTOP may draw heightened attention to Trump’s crypto ventures amidst ongoing regulatory discussions. The White House press office did not provide an immediate comment to Cointelegraph’s inquiry.
Why it matters
Hunter Biden’s launch of the LAPTOP memecoin marks a significant convergence of politics, cryptocurrency, and media controversy. This move is poised not only to ignite interest in meme tokens but also to highlight the ongoing political rivalry in the US within the broader context of digital asset regulation debates. The decision to allocate tokens to TRUMP holders underscores a nuanced strategy of influence in the crypto space, raising questions about the role of memecoins in political and economic contests. This unfolds alongside a critical legislative milestone — the consideration of the CLARITY Act, which could reshape the US cryptocurrency market landscape.
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