$Trump

It included a disclaimer noting the coin is "not intended to be, or the subject of" an investment opportunity or a security and was "not political and has nothing to do with" any political campaign, political office or government agency.

Critics accused Trump of cashing in on the presidency.

"Trump owning 80 percent and timing launch hours before inauguration is predatory and many will likely get hurt by it," Nick Tomaino, a crypto venture capitalist, said in a social media post.

Such digital tokens are notorious for speculators using hype to pump up the value before selling at the top of the market, leaving latecomers to count their losses as the price crashes.

Cryptocurrency investors are hoping the Trump administration will boost the industry.

President Joe Biden's regulators cited concerns about fraud and money laundering as they cracked down on crypto companies by suing exchanges.

Trump was previously skittish about cryptocurrency, but at a Bitcoin conference in Nashville last year he said America would be "the crypto capital of the planet" once he returned to Washington.

His sons Erik and Donald Jr announced their own crypto venture last year.