Conor McGregor Crypto Collapses In Presale Amid Market Crash

Conor McGregor’s Meme Coin Flops in Presale: Raises Only 39% of Target

MMA superstar Conor McGregor has suffered a setback outside the ring. His new crypto token, REAL , failed to reach its $1 million minimum presale target. The token, launched on April 5, 2025, raised only $392,315 in 28 hours, falling short by 61%.

The sealed-bid auction was designed to prevent bots and ensure fairness. But only 668 people took part, and it wasn’t enough. The project has now been paused, and all participants are set to receive refunds. Conor confirmed the news by tagging the X post of the Real World Gaming.

Source: X

Worst Possible Timing for Presale

The launch timing couldn’t have been worse. Crypto markets are struggling after Trump's tariff , and some analysts are calling this period the worst since the last crash. Conor McGregor’s team chose a weekend auction just before what’s now being called “Black Monday.”

Adding to the problems was growing doubt around celebrity-backed crypto. Earlier scandals, like the LIBRA memecoin incident in February, have made investors more cautious.

Despite backing from top crypto firms like Animoca Brands, KuCoin Labs, and Tezos Foundation, the token simply didn’t take off. Even Conor McGregor’s huge online presence (10 million followers on X, 47 million on Instagram) couldn’t save the launch.

What Went Wrong with $REAL Token?

REAL wasn't intended to be just another meme coin. Its utility in a gaming ecosystem, DAO voting rights, and transparency were all pledged by Conor and the Real World Gaming DAO.

The token had a structured plan:

• 31.5% to the DAO treasury

• 16.5% to the community

• 13.5% to seed investors

• 10% to the team

• The rest for staking, airdrops, and sales

But even with a fair launch format and utility promises, trust was an issue. The 10% team allocation worried some investors. Some people just didn't want to take a financial risk in an unstable market.

The original goal was to raise $3.6 million by selling 60 million tokens at $0.06 each. But with such a weak turnout, the presale couldn’t continue.

A worse time to launch the token was chosen. In this black Monday whole crypto is in a drop of up to 7%, even the strongest cryptos aren't able to handle the drop. Bitcoin dropped by 8%, ETH dropped by 15%, and XRP dropped by 16%. Even Such market-leading cryptocurrencies can protect themselves from the market crash. It's tough for a new memecoin to survive.

Failure or Hidden Blessing?

The token’s failure may not be a total loss for Conor McGregor. Given how unstable the markets are with rising tariffs and global economic tension, some experts say this might have saved him from worse trouble.

Other celebrity tokens have faced legal issues too. Just last week, the SEC dropped charges against “Hawk Tuah” girl Hailey Welch, who had a failed token launch. McGregor, who’s been eyeing a political future in Ireland, may have avoided similar backlash.

McGregor’s team says the project isn’t dead. They plan to relaunch the coin in the future, though no date has been announced. For now, investors are watching closely, and many are waiting to see if REAL can make a comeback. $REAL tokens website shows the states that “This is not the end.”

Source: $REAL Token Website

What’s Next?

The failed presale is a setback, but it’s not the end. McGregor’s team says the project will continue, but there’s no new date yet.

This break could help them fix the plan and wait for a better market. With his big fan base and strong brand, McGregor could still bring REAL back if the project stays honest and useful.

For now, investors are getting refunds. The crypto world is watching to see if this was a small stumble or the end of his crypto journey.