Crypto Just Got Rowdy—MMA Star Conor McGregor Enters The Ring With New Memecoin

Mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor has entered the cryptocurrency market with a new token called ‘REAL,’ released through a sealed bid auction. The auction format was chosen to block bots and snipers from taking over the launch, according to reports.

Irish Fighter Teams With Gaming DAO For Crypto Venture

The new token was created in partnership with Real World Gaming decentralized autonomous organization (DAO). According to the project details, REAL will offer staking incentives and governance rights to people who hold the tokens.

McGregor announced the launch on social media platform X on April 5, claiming this token would differ from other celebrity-backed cryptocurrencies.

“I changed the FIGHT game. I changed the WHISKEY game. I changed the STOUT game. Now it’s time to change the CRYPTO game. This is just the beginning,” McGregor wrote in his post.

I changed the FIGHT game. I changed the WHISKEY game. I changed the STOUT game.

Now it’s time to change the CRYPTO game.

This is just the beginning.

This is $REAL @getrealtoken https://t.co/tdUyvqyZHZ#GetReal pic.twitter.com/imoAYwY8D1

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 5, 2025

Token Distribution Favors DAO Treasury Over Community

Based on the cryptocurrency’s tokenomics outlined in the article, the DAO treasury will receive the largest share at 31.5% of all tokens. Community members will get almost 17%, while the development team and advisors will receive 10% and 1%, respectively.

The token’s whitepaper reveals a reward structure that benefits larger investors. Those who make substantial investments and regularly participate in staking activities will earn higher status and potentially greater revenue shares, creating a tiered system of benefits.

Conor McGregor launches his own memecoinhttps://t.co/zlwOdb2bdI

— Mcgregor Forever (@mcgregorufc22) April 5, 2025

The REAL token project has set its sights on changing the gambling industry by connecting it more closely with real-life experiences and mainstream consumers. According to the information released, McGregor and his team plan to use the funds to launch ventures related to sports and gaming.

In interviews, the MMA champion emphasized that transparency is at the center of the REAL token project. He stated they are “demonstrating how it’s done with integrity to the world,” attempting to distance this launch from other celebrity cryptocurrency projects that have faced criticism.

The introduction of McGregor’s token comes at a time when cryptocurrency traders are showing interest in memecoins but may not be committed to long-term holding.

Nansen research analyst Nicolai Sondergaard pointed out that “smart money” traders often seek quick profits from memecoin trades.

According to Sondergaard, the current increase in memecoin activity stems from traders exploring the market while waiting for the broader economic situation to stabilize.

Recent reciprocal tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump have created challenges for stock markets, pushing some investors toward alternative assets like memecoins.

Featured image from Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC, chart from TradingView