‘Hawk Tuah Girl’ Hailey Welch Claims SEC, FBI Cleared Her for the HAWK Memecoin Disaster
Haliey Welch, known as “Hawk Tuah Girl,” is distancing herself from the failed HAWK memecoin launched last December. Initially promoting it as a compliant, fan-focused project, she now claims to have cooperated with the FBI and SEC, providing her phone for investigation and subsequently being “cleared.” This contrasts sharply with her previous enthusiastic endorsements, where she expressed excitement about participating in meme culture and the project’s development.
Welch’s current narrative portrays herself as an uninformed participant, expressing regret and claiming a lack of crypto understanding. This contradicts her November 2024 announcement, which showcased her active involvement and knowledge of the project’s legal compliance and Cayman Islands foundation backing. The HAWK token, launched on Solana, experienced a brief, dramatic surge to a $491 million market cap before plummeting to below $100 million within hours. Her team initially claimed legal compliance and a three-year vesting schedule for her tokens.
Welch now downplays user losses, claiming an $180,000 figure instead of the initially reported $1.2 million. However, this revised figure excludes the unrealized losses of the 10,149 token holders still holding HAWK, according to Solscan. This discrepancy and her professed lack of understanding are met with skepticism from online commentators. Many criticize her for endorsing and promoting a project she admits she didn’t comprehend.
The HAWK token’s price has plummeted by 99% since its December peak, currently holding a minuscule $104,000 market capitalization. Welch’s shifting narrative and the significant losses incurred by investors highlight the risks associated with memecoins and the importance of due diligence before participating in such ventures. The incident serves as a cautionary tale for both investors and influencers involved in the cryptocurrency market.
