Crypto platforms remove Hunter Biden $LAPTOP token promotions

Posts from Pump Fun and Kraken that promoted a memecoin based on Hunter Biden's laptop were taken down. The token, called $LAPTOP, was set to launch on Base.

The two crypto companies promoted $LAPTOP on Monday, ahead of its Wednesday launch, highlighting that the token would be available for trading on Pump Fun and Kraken.

The announcement sparked strong criticism within the crypto community, which is thought to have prompted the removal of the promotional material.

Crypto influencers denounce Hunter Biden token

Several well-known crypto influencers have also spoken out against the memecoin.

Ansem, whose real name is Zion Thomas, likened the launch to past celebrity token debacles. Threadguy described the pre-announced token as a "scam" that would crash his "low cap gems."

Rasmr made a more extreme comparison, equating the launch to the 9/11 attacks.

Threadguy commented, "The problem is everybody knowing about it pre launch completely ruins any chance of success. malicious or not."

Market Bubble, the show presented by Thomas and FaZe Banks, also called off a scheduled interview with Biden set for Thursday.

Some observers accused the influencers of hypocrisy, pointing to their past endorsements of other celebrity tokens, including Donald Trump's.

> Guy who promoted Iggy Azalea Coin, Davido Coin, Jason Derulo coin, Trippie Redd coin, Trump coin, but draws the moral line at Hunter Biden coin

— Wazz (@WazzCrypto)

Base team seeks distance from laptop token

$LAPTOP is debuting on the Base network. Since the Wall Street Journal reported the launch, Base creator Jesse Pollak and crypto figure Cobie have been managing the fallout.

Pollak stated that Biden's team reached out, but that Base decided to stay uninvolved for political reasons. Cobie worked to counter speculation that Base was behind the token's creation.

According to WSJ, 30% of the memecoin's supply is set for Biden and fellow co-founders. Another 20% will be allocated to Biden's Substack subscribers, Andrew Callahan's YouTube newsletter list, and traders who lost money on Trump's memecoin.

Trading on Pump Fun is expected to begin at 8 am EST, with the official launch on September 9.

Channel 5 denies involvement with token

Channel 5, the YouTube news outlet run by Callahan that has often hosted Hunter Biden, stated it has no ties to the token and will never "advertise crypto."

Channel 5 further said it managed to retrieve its subscriber list from Hunter's team prior to any emails being dispatched. The channel faced criticism for initially providing the email list.

Background on the laptop controversy

The laptop belonging to Hunter Biden became a focal point in political discussions about whether President Joe Biden was involved in his son's Ukraine dealings.

Three weeks before the 2020 election, the New York Post ran a story asserting that the laptop contained evidence of corruption.

A Republican-led investigation later concluded that Joe Biden had not acted improperly concerning Ukraine.

Hunter Biden has said he is millions of dollars in debt and has had difficulty covering legal expenses from multiple criminal cases.

In 2024, Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to tax offenses and was convicted of being an illegal drug user with a firearm. His father issued a pardon before he was sentenced.