Ross Gerber Slams Trump And Melania Memecoin Hype For Spooking Crypto Investors: ‘Money Doesn’t Come Back’

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management, said the recent slump in Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC), as the broader crypto market struggles a year into Donald Trump‘s presidency, may be driven by the rapid rise of speculative meme coins.

In an interview with Business Insider, published on Thursday, Gerber suggested that the introduction and subsequent popularity of Official Trump (CRYPTO: TRUMP) and the First Lady-themed Official Melania (CRYPTO: MELANIA) meme coins have made investors cautious of digital assets. He argues that these meme coins, often backed or introduced by celebrities, result in ordinary investors losing money while the celebrity promoters profit.

Don’t Miss:

He said that investors often jump into such tokens believing the hype, only to get burned, adding that the “money doesn’t come back,” and is effectively “stolen” from them.

He also pointed to other celebrity-backed cryptocurrencies, including a token launched by former New York City mayor Eric Adams and the $HAWK coin introduced by internet personality Haliey Welch, as additional examples of meme coins that have led to investor losses.

Gerber also criticized the Trump administration’s lax approach to crypto regulation, which he believes is making the market less attractive to everyday investors.

Trending: You Saved for Retirement — But Do You Know What You’ll Keep After Taxes?

Gerber’s criticism comes as Bitcoin has fallen nearly 50% from its October peak, dropping below its November 2024 level, with an early February sell-off triggering over $2.7 billion in liquidations, its sharpest decline since 2022, according to algorithmic trading firm Wintermute.

The downturn followed several macro catalysts, including Kevin Warsh‘s nomination as Fed chair, weak “Magnificent Seven” earnings and a correction in precious metals. Wintermute said capital has rotated heavily into AI-focused equities, leaving crypto underperforming in both market rallies and sell-offs, a trend typical of bear markets.

Over the past month, the Melania Trump-themed meme coin slumped 36.11%, while temporarily gaining momentum around the release of the Amazon MGM documentary, MELANIA, at the end of January. Meanwhile, the Trump memecoin declined 41.55% during the same period. The Trump family-backed World Liberty Financial (CRYPTO: WLFI) also shed 43.82% of its value over the past month.

See Also: Own the Characters, Not Just the Content: Inside a Fast-Growing Pre-IPO IP Company

Other popular meme coins like Dogecoin  (CRYPTO: DOGE) and Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: SHIB) were also in freefall, further indicating the volatility of these digital assets.

Mark Yusko, CEO of Morgan Creek Capital Management, said Trump has a different crypto agenda centered on maintaining dollar dominance, predicting Bitcoin could bottom between $58,000 and $63,000 in September. He also warned that the current version of the Clarity Act is a “non-starter” that risks pushing crypto toward CBDCs, centralization, and greater control.

On the other hand, Anthony Scaramucci, a sharp critic of Trump’s tariffs and foreign policy, praised the president’s efforts to liberalize the crypto industry, saying his administration is “far better” for digital assets than alternatives under Joe Biden or Kamala Harris. He has also argued that Trump’s policies could be a win-win for Bitcoin and welcomed progress on crypto and stablecoin legislation.

Image via Shutterstock

Read Next: Motley Fool’s analysts have built a new lineup of passive ETFs — explore which “Foolish” strategy fits your investment goals.

Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, professional financial guidance, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.

Rad AI’s award-winning artificial intelligence technology helps transform data chaos into actionable insights, enabling the creation of high-performing content with measurable ROI. Their Regulation A+ offering allows investors to participate at $0.85 per share with a minimum investment of $1,000, providing an opportunity to diversify portfolios into early-stage AI innovation. For investors seeking exposure to the rapidly growing AI and tech sector, Rad AI offers a chance to get in on the ground floor of a data-driven growth story.

Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.

Lightstone DIRECT gives accredited investors direct access to institutional-grade real estate, going beyond typical crowdfunding platforms. By cutting out middlemen, it aligns investor and manager interests while providing exposure to a $12B+ portfolio spanning multifamily, industrial, hospitality, retail, office, and life science properties. This approach allows investors to diversify their portfolios across multiple property types and markets, gaining professional-grade real estate exposure without the fees or misalignment common on other platforms.

Masterworks enables investors to diversify into blue-chip art, an alternative asset class with historically low correlation to stocks and bonds. Through fractional ownership of museum-quality works by artists like Banksy, Basquiat, and Picasso, investors gain access without the high costs or complexities of owning art outright. With hundreds of offerings and strong historical exits on select works, Masterworks adds a scarce, globally traded asset to portfolios seeking long-term diversification.

BAM Capital offers accredited investors a way to diversify beyond public markets through institutional-grade multifamily real estate. With over $1.85 billion in completed transactions and guidance from Senior Economic Advisor Tony Landa, the firm targets income and long-term growth as supply tightens and renter demand remains strong—especially in Midwest markets. Its income-focused and growth-oriented funds provide exposure to real assets designed to be less tied to stock market volatility.

As digital assets become a larger part of diversified portfolios, traders increasingly look for platforms that offer transparency, efficiency, and control. Kraken Pro is an advanced trading interface from Kraken, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges, designed for users who want more sophisticated tools without added complexity. With low, volume-based fees, a streamlined interface for managing spot, margin, and futures trading, and a strong focus on security and regulatory compliance, Kraken Pro provides a way to gain diversified crypto exposure through a clear, professional-grade trading experience.

REX Shares designs specialized ETFs for investors who want more precision than traditional broad-market funds can offer. Its lineup spans options-based income strategies, leveraged and inverse exposures, spot-linked crypto ETFs, and thematic funds tied to structural trends. By targeting specific income objectives, volatility profiles, or market themes, these ETFs can be used alongside core holdings to introduce differentiated return drivers and reduce reliance on a single market outcome, while maintaining the liquidity and transparency of the ETF structure.

Motley Fool Asset Management brings its long-standing “Foolish” investing philosophy into a lineup of passive ETFs designed around clear, rules-based investment styles. Built using decades of proprietary research from The Motley Fool, LLC, these factor-based ETFs focus on growth, value, and momentum strategies, selecting U.S. companies based on quality, risk, and long-term potential. For investors who want professionally vetted stock exposure without the demands of active trading, Motley Fool Asset Management offers a straightforward way to access expert-driven strategies through the simplicity and liquidity of an ETF.

Elf Labs is an IP-focused entertainment company built on a strategy that has powered giants like Disney and Marvel: ownership of globally recognized character IP. After more than a decade of rights acquisition, the company controls 500+ protected trademarks and copyrights tied to iconic characters including Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, and Peter Pan. This foundation has generated over $15 million in royalties, expanded licensing into 30+ countries, and supported development of 100+ product lines. With its Nasdaq ticker ($ELFS) reserved and valuation growth exceeding 1,600% in under two years, Elf Labs is now scaling distribution through patented production systems, global licensing, and streaming and mobile initiatives—offering investors exposure to a private entertainment company with a clear public-market trajectory.

Finance Advisors helps Americans approach retirement with greater clarity by connecting them to vetted, fiduciary financial advisors who specialize in tax-aware retirement planning. Rather than focusing on products or investment performance alone, the platform emphasizes strategies that account for after-tax income, withdrawal sequencing, and long-term tax efficiency—factors that can materially impact retirement outcomes. Free to use, Finance Advisors gives individuals with meaningful savings access to a level of planning sophistication historically reserved for high-net-worth households, helping reduce hidden tax risk and improve long-term financial confidence.

This article Ross Gerber Slams Trump And Melania Memecoin Hype For Spooking Crypto Investors: ‘Money Doesn’t Come Back’ originally appeared on Benzinga.com

© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.