Martin Shkreli, a notorious figure in the pharmaceutical industry, has once again made headlines. This time, he is claiming to be the creator of Trump Coin (DJT), a Solana-based meme coin allegedly launched by former President Donald Trump. The controversy has sparked widespread debate and scrutiny within the cryptocurrency community.

Shkreli, who served over six years in federal prison for financial crimes, recently emerged from prison in 2022. He has been active on social media platforms and has been making bold claims about his involvement in DJT. During a recent X Spaces session, he claimed to have collaborated with Barron Trump, the son of Donald Trump, to develop the meme coin. He provided screenshots showing interactions involving Andrew Tate expressing interest in DJT tokens, further insinuating involvement from Barron Trump in the project.

The controversy has intensified with a $150,000 bounty announced by Arkham Intelligence to identify DJT’s creator. This has led to widespread speculation and scrutiny within the cryptocurrency community. Additionally, Shkreli has reported a $100 million bet with a prominent crypto trader, adding financial intrigue to the unfolding saga.

Shkreli revealed insights during the X Spaces discussion, claiming to have assisted in DJT’s launch. He also revealed the involvement of approximately 10 individuals, with an additional 40 to 50 informed about the initiative. Emphasizing Barron Trump’s alleged participation, Shkreli’s statements have fueled curiosity and skepticism alike regarding the Trump family’s association with the meme coin.

However, the crypto community has questioned the legitimacy of the screenshots provided by Shkreli. Another screenshot surfaced wherein Shkreli is seen asking someone to invest in DJT just before the launch, which he denied. Amidst the controversy, the trading trajectory of DJT has been turbulent, with the meme coin experiencing a significant decline from its peak. According to CoinCarp analytics, the DJT price plummeted by nearly 70% following reports from Lookonchain exposing insider trading activities.

The controversy initially gained momentum after Pirate Wires erroneously suggested DJT’s official endorsement by Donald Trump. However, Mike Solana, Editor-in-Chief at Pirate Wires, offered a clarification on the claims, stating that he had no direct communication with any Trump family members and was relaying information from secondary sources.