Kate Leinbaugh

But Trump's coin has done more than fire up the usual critics. It's also drawn criticism from within the crypto community. That's next. The release of the Trump meme coin blindsided people in the crypto industry who've been working hard to repair crypto's reputation.

Crypto is increasingly going mainstream. Major Wall Street firms now offer crypto funds. Crypto-friendly legislators won big in November's election. And in December, the price of Bitcoin hit $100,000 for the first time.

Crypto is increasingly going mainstream. Major Wall Street firms now offer crypto funds. Crypto-friendly legislators won big in November's election. And in December, the price of Bitcoin hit $100,000 for the first time.

Crypto is increasingly going mainstream. Major Wall Street firms now offer crypto funds. Crypto-friendly legislators won big in November's election. And in December, the price of Bitcoin hit $100,000 for the first time.

Meme coins have such a dodgy reputation that when Trump first posted about his new coin, many in the crypto community assumed it was a scam and his accounts had been hacked. When it became clear that the coin launch was real, some in the industry raised concerns that it was a rug pull, that the Trump entities behind the coin could cash out, tanking the coin price for everyone else.

Meme coins have such a dodgy reputation that when Trump first posted about his new coin, many in the crypto community assumed it was a scam and his accounts had been hacked. When it became clear that the coin launch was real, some in the industry raised concerns that it was a rug pull, that the Trump entities behind the coin could cash out, tanking the coin price for everyone else.

Meme coins have such a dodgy reputation that when Trump first posted about his new coin, many in the crypto community assumed it was a scam and his accounts had been hacked. When it became clear that the coin launch was real, some in the industry raised concerns that it was a rug pull, that the Trump entities behind the coin could cash out, tanking the coin price for everyone else.

On the other hand, Vicky says, cashing out would be tricky in practice because of how the Trump meme coin is structured.

On the other hand, Vicky says, cashing out would be tricky in practice because of how the Trump meme coin is structured.

On the other hand, Vicky says, cashing out would be tricky in practice because of how the Trump meme coin is structured.

They need to be... sold over the course of three years? Yes. So that's a sign that it might not be a rug pull.

They need to be... sold over the course of three years? Yes. So that's a sign that it might not be a rug pull.

They need to be... sold over the course of three years? Yes. So that's a sign that it might not be a rug pull.

What does this whole coin drama tell you about the crypto industry?

What does this whole coin drama tell you about the crypto industry?

What does this whole coin drama tell you about the crypto industry?

The tension between the gamblers and the suits.

The tension between the gamblers and the suits.

The tension between the gamblers and the suits.

What do you think it signals about what the next four years are going to be like?