Feds Investigate Hailey Welch Following $400M Meme Coin Collapse

Hailey Welch, the internet personality known as ’Hawk Tuah Girl,’ found herself under federal scrutiny after a meme coin bearing her name evaporated $400 million in market value. The FBI and SEC launched probes into the incident, with agents visiting Welch’s grandmother’s residence—a stark illustration of regulators’ growing focus on influencer-driven crypto schemes.

Welch claimed minimal involvement during her ’Talk Tuah’ podcast, stating she received pre-written promotional material and relinquished control of her social media accounts. The viral star expressed remorse for trusting the wrong collaborators, acknowledging her role in misleading followers despite lacking technical crypto knowledge.

The SEC has since cleared Welch of wrongdoing, but the case underscores mounting regulatory pressure on celebrity-endorsed tokens. This incident follows a pattern of meme coin implosions where retail investors bear the brunt of speculative manias.