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🦅 From Meme Queen to Crypto Dream
Read the next part: What We Still Don’t Know About the $HAWK Token Collapse — And What Comes Next
It all started with a single moment at the CMA Fest in Nashville.
In June 2024, Haliey Welch gave a street interview that changed her life overnight. When asked about a move that drives men crazy, she responded with:
“You gotta give ’em that hawk tuah and spit on that thang.”
That line exploded on social media. Within hours, it became a meme. Within days, Welch was a viral sensation. Merch drops, brand deals, and podcast appearances followed. She even threw out the first pitch at a Mets game.
But Welch wasn’t content with just being a meme. She wanted to build something bigger — something lasting. That’s when she made the leap into cryptocurrency.
It seemed like a genius move at the time. Until it wasn’t.
💸 The $HAWK Token: From Sky-High Valuation to Freefall
In December 2024, Welch announced the launch of her own cryptocurrency — the $HAWK token — a “community-driven memecoin” inspired by her viral catchphrase.
Crypto Twitter and Reddit’s r/cryptocurrency exploded with hype:
✅ Within 24 hours, $HAWK soared to a market cap of nearly $500 million.
✅ TikTok influencers were calling it “the next Dogecoin.”
✅ Early holders were making 5x and 10x returns within hours.
The momentum was real — until it wasn’t.
Within 48 hours:
❌ $HAWK’s value collapsed by over 90%.
❌ Trading volume vanished.
❌ Thousands of investors were left holding worthless tokens.
It didn’t take long for the conspiracy theories to start rolling in. Blockchain data revealed that a handful of early wallets had offloaded massive amounts of $HAWK just before the crash.
“They pumped it, dumped it, and left the rest of us holding the bag,” one Reddit user posted. “Classic rug pull.”
⚖️ Was It a Pump-and-Dump? Welch’s Legal Exposure
Welch quickly distanced herself from the fallout, claiming she was only a “face” of the token — not involved in its management.
But that’s not how the law works.
💼 Potential Legal Issues:
➡️ Investor Lawsuits: Multiple investors have filed lawsuits claiming that Welch misled them about the legitimacy of $HAWK.
➡️ False Advertising: If Welch exaggerated or misrepresented $HAWK’s potential value, she could face penalties under consumer protection laws.
➡️ Securities Violations: If the SEC determines that $HAWK was an unregistered security, Welch could be held accountable under U.S. securities laws — even if she didn’t directly control the token.
“You don’t have to be the developer to face legal consequences,” said Alex Brennan, a financial lawyer specializing in cryptocurrency cases. “If you promoted it with misleading claims, that’s enough for securities fraud.”
🚨 Crypto Scams Act in Play
The recently passed Crypto Scams Prevention Act gives the SEC broader authority to investigate influencer-backed tokens. If Welch is found to have benefitted financially from insider activity or market manipulation, the penalties could be severe — including fines, market bans, and possible criminal charges.
Right now, Welch hasn’t been formally charged. But the lawsuits are stacking up — and the SEC is watching.
🌍 Damage to the Crypto Market
The $HAWK crash didn’t just damage Welch’s reputation — it shook the entire memecoin market.
📉 Market-Wide Fallout:
🔻 Loss of Trust: Investors became wary of influencer-backed tokens. Trading volume in top memecoins like $DOGE and $SHIB dropped by over 20% in the weeks after the $HAWK collapse.
🔻 Regulatory Pressure: Lawmakers pointed to $HAWK as an example of why influencer-driven crypto projects need tighter regulation.
🔻 New Vetting Standards: Major exchanges like Binance and Kraken quietly adjusted their listing standards, reportedly rejecting new memecoins linked to celebrity endorsements.
“Crypto is already volatile — add influencer-driven hype and you get chaos,” said financial analyst Mark Ellison. “This made the whole market look like a joke.”
The $HAWK incident also triggered a shift in the influencer-crypto dynamic. Major influencers, including Logan Paul and Jake Paul (both previously involved in crypto projects), have reportedly paused their crypto-related content out of fear of regulatory blowback.
Was Welch Set Up?
Emerging evidence suggests that Haliey Welch may have been positioned as the public face of the $HAWK token, while other entities orchestrated activities behind the scenes.
The Entities Involved:
- Tuah The Moon Foundation: A Cayman Islands-based organization implicated in the development and sale of the $HAWK token.
- overHere Ltd.: A company associated with the marketing and management of the token.
- Clinton So: Founder of overHere Ltd., named in investor lawsuits alleging deceptive practices.
- Alex Larson Schultz (aka Doc Hollywood): A social media influencer accused of promoting the token and engaging in activities detrimental to investors.
These parties have been sued by investors for allegedly using Welch’s celebrity status to falsely promote the $HAWK token and engaging in deceptive practices to evade U.S. securities laws. nypost.com
Evidence of Insider Manipulation:
Analyses indicate that a significant portion of the $HAWK token supply was controlled by a limited number of wallets, leading to coordinated sell-offs that precipitated the token’s value decline. news.com.au
Welch’s Financial Involvement:
Reports suggest that Welch received an upfront payment of $125,000 to promote the $HAWK token and owned 10% of its total supply, with a stipulation preventing her from selling these tokens for a year. blockchain.bakermckenzie.com
Welch’s Position:
Welch has publicly denied any wrongdoing, stating her commitment to cooperate with legal teams representing affected investors. financemagnates.com+9coindesk.com+9news.com.au+9
Note: The information provided is based on available reports and allegations. No legal conclusions have been drawn, and all individuals and entities mentioned are presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
🕵️♀️ Haliey Welch’s Current Whereabouts
Since the $HAWK collapse, Welch has stayed out of the spotlight — but not entirely.
- Animal Rescue Initiative: Welch has channeled her efforts into animal welfare. She launched a charity focused on rescuing and rehabilitating animals, sharing updates through the Instagram account @hwpaws. This reflects her passion for animal rights and hints at a new chapter away from the crypto world.
- Media Appearance: Welch made a recent appearance on the reality show Summer House, participating in a date segment with cast member West Wilson. This cameo suggests that Welch is slowly testing the waters for a comeback.
While Welch has yet to publicly address the $HAWK fallout in detail, her recent activity signals that she may be trying to reframe her public image — and distance herself from the crypto scandal.
🚀 What’s Next for Haliey Welch?
Welch has gone dark since the collapse. No new podcast episodes. No social media activity. No public statements.
But the story isn’t over.
🔮 Possible Scenarios:
➡️ Legal Consequences: If the SEC determines that Welch knowingly misled investors, she could face substantial fines or even criminal penalties.
➡️ Brand Rebuilding: Welch could try to turn the scandal into a redemption arc — perhaps by launching a new podcast or becoming a crypto regulation advocate.
➡️ Financial Banishment: If the lawsuits succeed, Welch could face a lifetime ban from financial markets.
“She’s at a crossroads,” said media analyst Karen Holt. “If she owns the fallout and pivots smartly, she could survive this. But if the SEC gets involved? Game over.”
🎯 Lessons Learned: The Perils of Celebrity Crypto
- Hype ≠ Value: Just because a token is trending doesn’t mean it’s worth holding.
- Influencer Tokens = High Risk: If an influencer isn’t transparent about who’s running the token, that’s a red flag.
- Do Your Own Research: Welch’s followers rushed into $HAWK without asking basic questions about liquidity and supply — and paid the price.
- No Regulation = No Safety: Memecoins exist in a legal gray area. Until that changes, crashes like $HAWK are going to keep happening.
💡 Conclusion: From Meme Queen to Crypto Cautionary Tale
Haliey Welch’s ‘rise and fall’ is a reminder that internet fame and financial credibility are two very different things.
Welch’s story may not be over — but the damage to her reputation, and to the broader crypto market, is already done. Whether Welch makes a comeback or fades into the background remains to be seen — but one thing’s certain: the Hawk Tuah legacy will live on in crypto history.
💬 What Do You Think?
Did Welch get in over her head — or was this always a pump-and-dump? Was she simply used by others, and if so, is ignorance a defense? Should influencer-backed tokens be banned altogether? Drop your thoughts in the comments! 👇
Read the next part: What We Still Don’t Know About the $HAWK Token Collapse — And What Comes Next
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This is a sign of the times with big cat’s playing with a small mouse. Looks like she was set up for the fall.
This is a warning for all.
It’s getting out of hand with the amount of memecoins and rug pulls. Stick to stable coins for investments