Understanding REAL: An Overview of Conor McGregor’s Staking-Enabled Memecoin
Conor McGregor, popularly known as “Notorious,” is an Irish mixed martial artist born in Dublin on July 14, 1988. He is celebrated for his success in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), being the first athlete to hold championships in two weight classes—featherweight and lightweight—simultaneously.
In addition to his fighting career, McGregor ventured into business, launching his whiskey brand, Proper No. Twelve, in 2018, honoring his Dublin heritage.
He capitalized on his UFC fame to promote this triple-distilled whiskey. In 2021, he sold a majority interest to Proximo Spirits for an estimated $600 million while remaining actively involved.
In April 2025, McGregor made his entrance into the cryptocurrency scene with the launch of a memecoin called “REAL.” This digital token was presented as a game changer for the crypto landscape and was introduced via a sealed-bid auction to avoid interference from bots and snipers.
Created in collaboration with a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) named Real World Gaming (RWG), the REAL memecoin provides holders with staking rewards and governance rights within its ecosystem.
What Occurred During the REAL Memecoin Fundraising?
With REAL, McGregor aspired to make a significant mark in the crypto realm, but events did not unfold as intended.
In an effort to raise funds with a target of $1,008,000, McGregor collaborated with RWG. Yet, during the 28-hour presale, only $392,315 in USDC was collected from 668 participants, achieving merely 39% of the goal.
RWG admitted the auction did not meet the minimum fundraising requirement and announced that all bids would be fully refunded. McGregor himself supported this declaration.
The REAL token was auctioned through a sealed-bid process on Axis Finance, allowing users to submit private bids detailing the amount and price they desired, with tokens awarded to the highest bidders at a single clearing price.
After reflecting on their missteps, RWG plans to relaunch the fundraising, although a date has yet to be announced.
McGregor has remained vocal about the situation, regularly updating or endorsing changes with his signature phrase: “Ladies and gentlemen, this is REAL!” The team aims to redefine the token’s purpose and possibly revise its fundraising strategy for a more successful future attempt.
Did you know? Memecoins often see value surges driven by community enthusiasm and viral phenomena, rather than technical merit. Although lacking in robust fundamentals, social media buzz and celebrity endorsements can lead to substantial short-term gains, appealing to high-risk, high-reward investors.
Factors Behind the Failure of REAL Memecoin Fundraising
RWG’s attempt to introduce the REAL memecoin was hindered by several challenges, resulting in the DAO’s inability to hit its fundraising benchmarks.
Several elements contributed to this outcome:
- Market Timing: The launch coincided with a decline in the cryptocurrency market, with major cryptocurrencies like Ether (ETH) and Solana (SOL) suffering significant drops. Bitcoin (BTC) was the exception, seen as a safe haven. Memecoins experienced about a 60% decline after December 24, except for GHIBLI. Such adverse market conditions weren’t ideal for launching another memecoin.
- Economic Conditions: The global economy is facing restructuring due to changes in tariffs initiated by the Trump administration, which led to a stock market downturn of around $5 trillion—more than the entire crypto market cap. Although this crash occurred post-fundraising failure, signs of economic instability had been accumulating. The uncertainty stemming from recession fears and notable losses in U.S. equities prompted investors to adopt a more cautious approach.
- Memecoin Scams: In 2024, over $500 million was lost to rug pulls and scams associated with memecoins, according to reports by Merkle Science, causing significant skepticism toward memecoins. Incidents like hackers exploiting Kylian Mbappe’s X account to promote a fraudulent memecoin that reached a $460 million market cap before being pulled, and Wiz Khalifa’s followers being targeted by a fake WIZ token, likely eroded investor confidence in REAL as well. Many experienced traders opted for quick profits.
- Misunderstanding of the Token’s Purpose: Despite McGregor’s claims that REAL was a legitimate offering with real-world applications, many regarded it merely as another celebrity-endorsed memecoin, which may have undermined its credibility and deterred potential backers.
- Investor Skepticism Toward Celebrity Tokens: The crypto community has become increasingly cautious regarding tokens backed by celebrities, especially following numerous high-profile failures. Tokens associated with notable figures such as Donald Trump and Melania Trump faced sharp declines, resulting in significant losses for investors. Other celebrity-endorsed token flops include Hawk Tuah (HAWK) by Haliey Welch and Daddy Tate (DADDY) by Andrew Tate, with some celebrities losing credibility in the crypto sphere. Davido, the Nigerian music star, was criticized for launching a memecoin only to profit from pump and dump strategies. Such cases contributed to a general air of suspicion surrounding memecoins.
- McGregor’s Image: While pivotal to his successes in the UFC, McGregor’s brash persona seemed to work against him in the crypto world. His history of controversies and impulse-driven actions raised concerns about the legitimacy of the project, creating additional red flags in a space already fraught with scams.
Did you know? Certain memecoins have spurred real-world charitable efforts and activism. For instance, Dogecoin’s community once raised over $50,000 to send the Jamaican bobsled team to the 2014 Winter Olympics, illustrating how memecoins can promote fun and philanthropy.
REAL Memecoin’s Objectives and Tokenomics
REAL aims to enable functions such as staking, governance, and utility, as well as provide a real-world MMA fight simulator and potential business integrations. However, its tokenomics have come under fire.
According to the RWG team, the REAL memecoin was designed with transparency and community involvement in mind, allocating 32% of the total supply to the DAO treasury for ecosystem development, while 17% was earmarked for community incentives.
Token holders could stake their coins to earn governance rights and rewards, with 10% set aside for the development team. The intention was to support sports and gaming startups, merging excitement with practical applications.
Critics have identified issues within the tokenomics, frequently citing them as contributing factors to the lackluster fundraising results. The token’s 12-hour unlocking period attracted particular disdain.
This provision allowed investors to quickly sell their tokens after acquisition to realize profits, even amid declining price levels. Such mechanisms had been previously exploited for pump-and-dump schemes, establishing a negative precedent that deterred long-term investors seeking genuinely sustainable growth.
The project’s marketing strategy sparked doubts as many believed it lacked genuine value and was merely an opportunistic use of a celebrity’s name. The use of third-party logos on their website led to accusations of misleading promotion, further eroding credibility and discouraging potential investors. Additionally, the absence of a clear roadmap for REAL heightened investor skepticism.
Broad Risks Associated with Celebrity-Backed Tokens
The outcome of McGregor’s REAL memecoin fundraising underscores the wider risks of celebrity endorsement in the crypto realm. While celebrities may attract attention and large followings, their participation often lacks depth, long-term commitment, or a clear understanding of the projects they promote.
Tokens backed by celebrities frequently depend on hype rather than tangible value, leading to scenarios where initial investors profit while later entrants incur losses.
Such project collapses damage the reputation of the cryptocurrency industry as a whole, contributing to public skepticism. The challenges faced during REAL’s fundraising illustrate that fame does not equate to a project’s inherent credibility.
Regulatory bodies are also increasingly scrutinizing endorsements, which may lead to legal repercussions for misleading promotions. For the cryptocurrency space to evolve, projects must emphasize transparency, functionality, and capable leadership over sensational marketing.
The failure of the REAL memecoin fundraising highlights that authentic trust and a long-term vision hold greater value than celebrity status in crypto fundraising.
Did you know? Shiba Inu, introduced in 2020 by “Ryoshi,” was termed the “Dogecoin killer.” With a staggering quadrillion-token supply and a passionate “Shib Army” community, it reached a $40 billion market cap in 2021.
Lessons for Investors from the REAL Memecoin Fundraising Failure
There are numerous takeaways for investors from the unsuccessful fundraising of REAL memecoin.
Above all, hype can never replace genuine value. Basing investment choices solely on celebrity influence, without grasping the fundamentals of a project, can lead to misguided decisions.
REAL also demonstrated how rapidly investor sentiment can change. Initial excitement dwindled into skepticism as potential buyers recognized the absent community engagement and utility of the token.
McGregor’s limited interaction and controversial public persona only amplified doubts, illustrating that fame does not ensure project reliability or longevity.
Investors should prioritize conducting thorough research (DYOR). Celebrity endorsement alone does not confer legitimacy. It’s crucial to verify real-world applications, developer activity, tokenomics, and community feedback.
Lastly, the downfall of REAL fundraising underscores the necessity for regulatory clarity regarding celebrity endorsements. Without it, misleading promotions will continue to adversely affect retail investors and erode trust in the cryptocurrency sector.