On September 9, Hunter Biden announced on X that he will launch a new cryptocurrency under the ticker $LAPTOP. The move follows a Wall Street Journal report that the Biden son is preparing to issue a meme coin tied to the controversial laptop seized by the FBI in 2019.

Background on the laptop controversy

The laptop, dropped off for repair in Delaware in April 2019, was seized by federal agents five months later. Its contents – emails, documents, financial records and explicit photographs – became a focal point of media coverage during the 2020 election, especially among outlets supportive of President Trump. Biden’s legal team has consistently argued that the files were manipulated.

Hunter Biden’s crypto stance

Biden has been vocal about digital currencies, urging Congress to understand their potential utility and calling decentralized digital currency “the inevitable future.” His latest announcement includes a short video compiling references to the laptop from various news outlets and officials from the Trump administration.

Trump administration’s prior meme‑coin success

It is worth noting that President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump launched a pair of meme coins in early 2025, shortly after President Trump returned to office. According to reports, those coins generated roughly $1 billion in gains for the Trumps, demonstrating how a well‑timed cryptocurrency venture can produce substantial returns for supporters of the administration.

Market considerations

Investors typically trade meme coins based on trends, novelty, and the promise of quick gains rather than underlying fundamentals. The new $LAPTOP token will be listed on Base, a layer‑2 network created by Coinbase Global. Coinbase has not yet commented on the announcement.

Critics and concerns

Critics warn that meme coins carry high volatility and can expose investors to significant risk. Some observers point to the Biden family’s history of legal scrutiny and question whether the token’s branding could be seen as capitalizing on a politically charged controversy.

What this means for the crypto landscape

The entry of a high‑profile political figure’s relative into the meme‑coin arena underscores the growing intersection of politics and digital finance. While the Trump administration’s earlier success illustrates the lucrative potential of such ventures, the broader market remains cautious, emphasizing the need for investors to conduct thorough due diligence.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.