McGregor's Crypto Token REAL Fails to Raise $1M, Returns $392,315
1min read Conor McGregor’s highly anticipated crypto token, REAL, failed to meet its fundraising goal during its presale, raising only $392,315 in USDC out of the $1 million minimum required. As a result, all 668 participants in the 28-hour sealed-bid auction will receive full refunds. The token, which was marketed as a no-nonsense project aimed at bringing "REAL change" to the crypto and gaming sectors, had a total supply of 2 billion tokens, with only 60 million (3%) available during the presale. The full raise was intended to hit $3.6 million, valuing the token at $120 million fully diluted.
The failure of the REAL token can be attributed to several factors. Despite McGregor’s significant influence in combat sports and entrepreneurship, the crypto market did not respond positively this time. The launch coincided with one of the worst crypto crashes of the year, with Bitcoin dropping from above $80,000 to below $76,000. Additionally, U.S. stocks lost over $6.6 trillion in value, and fears of a new global recession due to sweeping tariff announcements further dampened investor sentiment.
Ask Aime: Why did Conor McGregor's crypto token, REAL, fail to meet its fundraising goal during its presale?
McGregor had positioned the REAL token as a departure from the typical celebrity-endorsed pump-and-dump tokens, stating, “This isn’t some celebrity-endorsed bullshit token. It’s a REAL game changer that will improve the crypto ecosystem as well as make REAL change in the world.” However, the project struggled to gain traction in a market characterized by low confidence and tight liquidity. The low participation of just 668 investors underscores the broader market’s caution toward new, untested tokens, even those backed by prominent figures.
Looking ahead, the developers of the REAL token, RWG, have indicated that this setback is not the end. They have hinted at regrouping and potentially rethinking their launch strategy. However, reviving the REAL token may require more than just hype and a famous face, given the current market volatility and the cooling off of meme culture.
