“Pharma Bro” Martin Shkreli Claims Involvement in Trump DJT Memecoin Amid Controversy
Martin Shkreli, infamously known as "Pharma Bro," has claimed involvement in the creation of the DJT token, a Solana-based meme coin that purports ties to the Trump family. This revelation came in the wake of crypto analytics platform Arkham Intelligence offering a $150,000 bounty to identify the creator of the DJT token, possibly spurred by a potential $100 million bet between pseudonymous crypto trader GCR and Shkreli.
On-chain investigator ZachXBT posted his findings on X, declaring he had proof of the token’s creator. Shortly after, Shkreli reached out to ZachXBT, and within an hour, hosted a Twitter Spaces session where he asserted his role in the creation of the DJT token. However, GCR has remained silent since a tweet last night about the broader crypto market, having previously stated that they would consider the bet settled if "Donald J Trump himself" confirmed launching the coin.
Shkreli claimed he worked with Barron Trump, Donald Trump’s youngest son, but expressed uncertainty about the Trump family publicly endorsing the token. He also purported to have evidence supporting his claims, although this was partially debunked by a screenshot shared with ZachXBT, suggesting Shkreli had insider information rather than direct involvement.
The absence of a recording from the Twitter Space session has led to conflicting accounts of Shkreli’s statements. Some users reported he admitted to insider trading and launching the token with a friend, intending to see it devalue. Others recounted him claiming to launch the token but could no longer ensure Trump family support.
Despite the rumors, traders on Polymarket, a blockchain-based prediction platform, remain skeptical about the DJT token's legitimacy. 92% of Polymarket participants are betting against the Trump family’s involvement with the DJT token. The token itself has plummeted over 60% in value in the past 24 hours.