Hawk Tuah Girl Haliey Welch Walks Free After FBI, SEC Clear Her in Coin Controversy
Haliey Welch, the 22-year-old “Hawk Tuah Girl” who became famous after a viral June 2024 YouTube interview, became the center of a cryptocurrency controversy when the HAWK meme coin collapsed in December 2024.
The Solana-based meme coin, which had been tied to her viral fame for a clever quip on an oral sex technique, reached a $500 million market capitalization before falling to $25 million within 24 hours, erasing 95% of its value.
HAWK price chart (Source: CoinMarketCap)
The crash triggered allegations of a “pump and dump” scheme, with the FBI and SEC launching an investigation into it. The crash is a testament to the volatility of celebrity-driven meme coins and the risks of leveraging viral fame in speculative markets.
Hawk Tuah Girl Vindicated in Meme Coin Misconduct Probe
Following the meme coin’s collapse, the FBI and SEC launched investigations into Welch’s involvement. FBI agents visited Welch’s grandmother’s home, interrogated her, and examined her phone for 2-3 days.
The SEC also probed her actions for potential misconduct. Both agencies cleared Welch of wrongdoing, as confirmed by her attorney, James Sallah, in a recent report in March 2025.
Welch said she had very little to do with it, as she earned a marketing fee—spent fully on legal and PR fees—and did not know anything about cryptocurrency. A third-party company took over her X account for promotions, providing scripted content sent to her.
While Welch faced no legal action, the rapid depreciation in value led to investor lawsuits against alleged creators like Alex Schultz and the Tuah Moon Foundation, though Welch was not named as a defendant.
Hawk Tuah Fall Exposes Crypto’s Wild Side
The HAWK meme coin saga shows the speculative nature of meme coins and the challenges of regulating projects linked to internet personalities.
Crypto influencer Coffeezilla accused Welch’s team of insider trading in a livestream, allegations they denied, according to a May 20, 2025, report.
On her May 21, 2025, “Talk Tuah” podcast, Welch addressed the investigations and personal fallout, including death threats.
Although Welch was not found guilty of any charges following the investigations from the SEC and FBI, the incident serves as a warning to influencers and investors who go into the speculative nature of meme coins.
