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  • 07 Apr 25

Conor McGregor’s Crypto Debut Flops as $REAL Fails to Meet Expectations

Conor McGregor’s attempt to enter the crypto market ended weakly: the $REAL token he promoted in partnership with Real World Gaming DAO failed.

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Conor McGregor’s attempt to enter the crypto market ended weakly: the $REAL token he promoted in partnership with Real World Gaming DAO failed to raise the minimum target amount during its pre-sale. The organizers have already promised to refund investors.

A Champion’s Token

The former UFC champion launched his own token on Ethereum in partnership with Real World Gaming DAO (formerly Balthazar DAO). In the promotional campaign, McGregor promised that $REAL would “change the crypto industry and the world” and help fight “waste, corruption, and injustice.” According to him, the token was not just another celebrity-branded coin but a “real breakthrough.”

A press release stated that $REAL would be integrated into RWG’s products and McGregor’s own brand lines, with revenues from these areas directed toward supporting a “global movement.” Allegedly involved investors included Animoca Brands, KuCoin Labs, Tezos Foundation, Algorand, and about 15 other crypto companies.

Suspicious Tokenomics

However, the project’s tokenomics immediately drew criticism: community members argued that insiders and the team could control up to 70% of the supply. Official distribution was as follows:

  • 31,5% — DAO.
  • 18,5% — Community.
  • 13,5% — Seed round.
  • 10% — Team.
  • 7,5% — Staking.
  • 7,5% — Private round.
  • 3,5% — Strategic round.
  • 3,5% — Airdrop.
  • 3% — Exchange liquidity.
  • 2% — Public sale.
  • 1% — Advisors.

REAL Tokenomics. Source: @TheNotoriousMMA
REAL Tokenomics. Source: @TheNotoriousMMA

Failed to Hit the Minimum

Even an audience of nearly 47 million followers on Instagram and 10 million on X couldn’t save the launch. McGregor’s official statement, in which he claimed the token was “not a celebrity ad gimmick but a true catalyst for change,” failed to convince the crypto community.

Onchain analyst ZachXBT reacted with a sarcastic comment that received three times more likes than the $REAL launch announcement itself.

ZachXBT's Response to the $REAL Launch. Source: ZachXBT
ZachXBT's Response to the $REAL Launch. Source: ZachXBT

The fundraising took place as a sealed-bid auction and was expected to bring in at least $1.008 million, with a cap of $3.6 million. However, interest in the token was low: in 28 hours, the project received just over $392,000.

The organizers acknowledged the failure and announced a full refund of all funds but added that “this is not the end.”

Market Backdrop Weak

The launch of $REAL coincided with a broader decline in interest in memecoins and decreased overall market activity. According to The Block’s GMCI Meme index, which tracks the 25 largest meme tokens, total market capitalization fell 9% in the past day.

In this context, analysts are increasingly pointing to fading enthusiasm for celebrity-backed tokens and suggesting that the market is becoming less receptive to big names.

Related:

This post is for informational purposes only and is not an ad or investment advice. Please do your own research making any decisions.

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