- McGregor criticized Khabib’s NFT drop, sparking backlash from ZachXBT.
- ZachXBT reminded the general public of McGregor’s failed REAL memecoin launch.
- The broader memecoin market continues collapsing to new yearly lows.
Conor McGregor stirred up one other spherical of headlines after taking a shot at longtime rival Khabib Nurmagomedov over his newest NFT drop on Telegram. The gathering featured digital variations of the papakha, the standard Dagestani hat Khabib famously wore all through his UFC profession. McGregor accused him of exploiting his late father’s identify and cultural symbols to “rip-off his followers,” a publish he later deleted. The jab rapidly reignited tensions between the 2 fighters, however this time the pushback didn’t come from Khabib.
ZachXBT Fires Again With Receipts
Blockchain investigator ZachXBT stepped in nearly instantly, reminding McGregor that he had launched his personal celeb memecoin, REAL, earlier this yr. The token by no means made it off the bottom and managed to lift solely round 39% of its goal throughout a sealed-bid public sale that was meant to stop bots from sniping the launch. ZachXBT identified the irony, noting that McGregor himself wiped posts and deserted the undertaking as soon as issues went sideways. In line with McGregor, funds have been refunded, however sentiment across the launch nonetheless left a bitter style.
Superstar Memecoins Hold Crashing in 2025
What occurred to McGregor’s REAL token wasn’t precisely distinctive. The memecoin market has been on a steep decline all through 2025, dropping from one of many hottest narratives of 2024 to one of many weakest sectors this yr. A number of celebrity-backed launches collapsed nearly instantly, together with tokens tied to Donald Trump and Argentina’s Javier Milei. Rug pulls, poor execution, and a brutal memecoin bear market drove total sector valuation all the way down to $39.4 billion this week, the bottom of the yr.
A Market Turning Away From Hype
The shift away from memecoins displays a deeper change within the crypto panorama. After months of market-wide drawdowns and failed launches, merchants have grown extra cautious round hype-driven property. McGregor’s failed token, paired together with his jab at Khabib’s NFT launch, grew to become the most recent instance of how rapidly these celeb tasks can backfire. For now, the house appears caught between fading enthusiasm and lingering mistrust, and it’s unclear whether or not memecoins will ever reclaim their explosive momentum from final cycle.
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