Hunter Biden has launched a meme coin named LAPTOP, reportedly named after the laptop controversy that gained prominence before the 2020 election. The coin’s distribution plan, however, has drawn significant criticism from traders ahead of its launch.
Launched on the Base network on September 9, the LAPTOP token has a total supply of 1 billion tokens. According to reporting first published by The Wall Street Journal, the distribution plan allocates 30% of the supply to founders, including Hunter Biden. An additional 20% is designated for an airdrop to individuals who lost money on the TRUMP token, as well as other selected recipients, including subscribers to Hunter Biden’s Substack and individuals on a mailing list curated by Andrew Callaghan of Channel 5.
Further complicating the distribution, up to 30% of the LAPTOP supply is earmarked for burning if a Democrat wins the 2028 presidential election or if the token’s valuation surpasses that of the TRUMP token. The remaining 20% is intended for charity and launch costs. Founder tokens are reportedly subject to lockups and vesting rules.
Backlash and Distancing
The allocation plan has faced immediate backlash from traders. The project has also seen distancing from associated parties. Andrew Callaghan stated that he and his team were not involved in the venture beyond providing the subscriber list. Kraken, a cryptocurrency exchange, deleted a promotional post about LAPTOP after it received criticism. Officials from the Base network emphasized that they did not assist in the design or promotion of the token, with Base founder Jesse Pollak noting that the project had approached his team, but Base chose not to participate.
These responses highlight the distinction between a token launching on a network and formal support from the network or other crypto companies. The situation also underscores how quickly distribution partners and promotional activity can become central to the discussion surrounding a politically-themed meme coin launch.
Political Meme Coin Context
The LAPTOP coin follows a pattern of politically themed digital tokens whose public appeal is closely tied to recognizable figures and current narratives. Donald Trump’s TRUMP token, for instance, previously reached a market cap of nearly $15 billion before its value declined. In this instance, Hunter Biden is reportedly seeking to recast the laptop controversy as the basis for a meme coin.
However, the available information does not establish what LAPTOP will be worth once trading begins. Its political branding, viral backstory, and planned distribution to some TRUMP holders may draw attention, but the token’s market reception will depend on how participants respond after it becomes available. The project’s stated structure outlines the intended allocation of the 1 billion-token supply, while the reaction from traders and associated parties has already become a significant part of its public rollout.
Why This Matters
The materials describe a narrow update: Hunter Biden launched a meme coin called LAPTOP, named after the laptop controversy. The market reception of the token remains uncertain.
Broader Context
Source materials place the factual news in this context: Donald Trump’s TRUMP token reached a market cap of nearly $15Bn before its value declined as internet enthusiasm faded.
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