Coffeezilla Confronts Influencer Hailey Welch Over $HAWK Meme Coin Scandal

Crypto investigator Stephen Findeisen, better known as Coffeezilla, has once again found himself at the forefront of a major cryptocurrency controversy. In a fiery exchange on X Spaces, Coffeezilla confronted viral influencer Hailey Welch over the catastrophic launch of her meme coin, $HAWK, accusing her of scamming her followers.

The tense discussion, which captivated the crypto community, centered on allegations of insider trading, market manipulation, and unethical practices during the coin’s launch. Coffeezilla minced no words, calling $HAWK’s rollout “one of the most miserable and horrible” events he had ever analyzed, leaving investors facing millions in losses.

The Meteoric Rise and Catastrophic Fall of $HAWK

Launched on December 4, 2024, the $HAWK meme coin quickly gained attention on the Solana blockchain. Welch, already famous as the “Hawk Tuah girl,” leveraged her massive social media following to promote the token. The result was an unprecedented surge in market cap, reaching nearly $500 million within minutes of its debut.

However, the euphoria was short-lived. The token’s value plummeted by over 91%, crashing to $30 million in hours before recovering slightly to $48 million. The dramatic collapse left countless investors reeling, with many pointing fingers at Welch and her team.

Coffeezilla’s Accusations

During the X Space, Coffeezilla revealed damning on-chain data, alleging that Welch and her team were involved in insider trading and profited from the chaos. He claimed snipers—accounts that exploit token launches—dumped over 135 million $HAWK tokens, generating over $1.3 million from a single trade. Coffeezilla asserted that some of these actions were directly tied to Welch’s creator accounts.

“This is one of the most miserable, horrible launches I’ve ever seen,” Coffeezilla told Welch. “You guys generated over a million dollars in fees while your fans got the rug pulled. There were snipers, but there was also insider trading directly linked to your accounts.”

Welch, however, denied all allegations, stating, “Snipers sniped it up to an insane market cap and dumped it. That was not us.” Her team also claimed no free tokens were distributed to insiders or promoters.

JUST IN: Coffeezilla (@coffeebreak_YT) calls out @HalieyWelchX and @DocHollywoodArt for scamming fans via the $HAWK launch

"This is a scam" pic.twitter.com/jyf4gpYxLn

— BlockNews (@blocknewsdotcom) December 5, 2024

Rug Pull Allegations and Growing Investor Outrage

The term “rug pull” has become central to the controversy, referring to a scheme where developers abandon a project and sell their holdings at a peak, leaving investors with worthless tokens. Coffeezilla accused Welch’s team of charging exorbitant fees—15% per transaction—and profiting from the market collapse.

“When you are charging 15%, you are profiting from the rug pull,” Coffeezilla added.

Despite Welch’s denials, many in the crypto community remain skeptical. Several investors have filed complaints with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), accusing Welch and her team of market manipulation. Some are even humorously suggesting Welch might have to “talk tuah” with a judge about the scandal.

The Fallout and What’s Next

As outrage grows, calls for accountability are mounting. Investors are demanding explanations and restitution for their losses, with some exploring potential legal action.

I’m so fucked and I don’t know what to do.

When the Hawk Tuah girl announced that she’d release a coin, I genuinely thought it would be my shot at making millions.

I convinced my parents to take out a 2nd mortgage on the house, liquidated all my assets, took out a 6 figure loan… https://t.co/SqngdQePsi pic.twitter.com/i74d0Laq2X

— Dantes (@doaenel) December 5, 2024

"I am a huge fan of Hawk Tuah but you took my life savings" feels like the epitaph for 2024 https://t.co/P0r2WCCwhz

— frank zeppo (@NoahPasternak) December 5, 2024

The scandal has also reignited debates about the risks of meme coins and the ethical responsibilities of influencers promoting financial products.

For Welch, the road ahead looks increasingly rocky. While she continues to deny wrongdoing, the SEC may soon step in to investigate the allegations. In the meantime, $HAWK’s value remains a shadow of its initial promise, and its reputation is deeply tarnished.

The $HAWK debacle serves as a cautionary tale for investors and influencers alike, highlighting the perils of speculative markets and the consequences of unchecked hype.

Whether Welch and her team will face legal or regulatory consequences remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the $HAWK saga is far from over.