A new, highly controversial celebrity meme coin is entering the crypto market: Hunter Biden has confirmed plans to launch a token called LAPTOP this Wednesday on Base, the Ethereum layer-2 network developed by Coinbase that has become a favored venue for low-fee token launches. The token is named after the well-known laptop containing explicit content that Biden left at a Delaware repair shop in 2019 before it was seized by the FBI. While the announcement has drawn mixed reactions on social media, LAPTOP is driving fresh conversations within the meme coin sector, which is now worth over $30 billion after gaining 27.2% over the last 30 days. The sector's 24-hour trading volume stands at $3.33 billion, nearly double what it was at this point last month.

Mainstream cryptocurrencies are having a relatively weak day. Bitcoin is working to hold $78,000 as support, and Ethereum is doing the same around $2,400. The total crypto market capitalization is $2.66 trillion after a 1.42% decline, but the Fear and Greed index sits at 71, still in "Greed" territory. Dogecoin is trading at $0.089, down 1% on the day but up about 8% on the week, with a market cap of $13.95 billion. Shiba Inu and Pepe have posted weekly gains of 4.8% and 2.9%, respectively, despite minor daily dips.

Presales continue to raise capital in these mixed conditions, as buyers can purchase tokens before they list on public exchanges. Within the meme presale niche, Maxi Doge (MAXI) has raised about $4.86 million at $0.0002837 per token, and buyers can stake MAXI to earn daily rewards at a 64% APY. With that raise approaching $5 million and major listings still ahead, MAXI has become a frequently cited "next crypto to explode" candidate in a market seeking alternatives to the latest high-risk token.

Crypto Prices Dip as Meme Coins Hold Up and LAPTOP Prepares to Launch

Following Hunter Biden's announcement of the LAPTOP meme coin launch on Base on Wednesday, social and mainstream financial media reacted quickly — and largely with disdain. Under the token's structure, founders including Biden will receive 30% of LAPTOP's 1 billion token supply, locked for six months and then released over more than two years. Another 20% is reserved for airdrops to wallets that lost money on Donald Trump's "Official Trump" meme coin, along with Biden's Substack subscribers and a mailing list provided by video journalist Andrew Callaghan. A further portion is set aside for burns if a Democratic candidate wins in 2028, Bitcoin prints a new record high, or LAPTOP's fully diluted value exceeds Trump's.

Copycat tokens using the LAPTOP ticker appeared within minutes of the first report, and many analysts have described the endeavor as a potential rug pull in the making, while also allowing for the possibility of short-lived gains for the earliest holders — particularly Biden and his founding team. The launch follows a broader wave of celebrity- and politician-backed tokens — most prominently the "Official Trump" coin launched in January 2025 — that drew heavy criticism over insider allocations and sharp losses for late buyers, a history that shapes the skepticism now directed at LAPTOP. Meanwhile, Official Trump is trading near $2.24 with a $612 million market cap, after a 5.9% drop over the last seven days and a 50% gain over the last month.

The relative strength of dog-themed tokens suggests some investors are steering clear of political controversies and focusing on entertainment-based tokens instead. Dogecoin is holding weekly gains of 8%, Shiba Inu is up 4.8% on the week, and Floki has gained 6.7%. Analyst Trader Tardigrade has flagged a rounded accumulation pattern on Dogecoin's 12-hour chart, with price pressed under resistance as swings tighten; a breakout could open the possibility of a move toward $0.10 over the next several days.

$DOGE / 12-hour

A potential Cup and Handle structure has now formed.

The cup signals accumulation, and the tight handle shows controlled consolidation under resistance as volatility contracts near the pattern's top.

A clean breakout above the handle could target the… pic.twitter.com/EliYzEmMK1

— Trader Tardigrade (@TATrader_Alan) September 8, 2026

That technical read aligns with a category that has already lifted its 30-day value by 27% and nearly doubled its daily trading volume over the same period. Early-stage dog tokens that pay a yield and have exchange listings on the calendar are typically where demand shifts next, which is why Maxi Doge is attracting significant attention. Whether the LAPTOP launch ultimately draws sustained capital into the meme sector or hardens investor caution around celebrity tokens remains to be seen as Wednesday's launch approaches.

Maxi Doge Presale Builds Momentum Ahead of DEX and CEX Listings

Maxi Doge (MAXI) is a dog-themed meme coin built around a gym-obsessed Shiba Inu mascot and the culture of high-conviction trading. MAXI runs on Ethereum with a fixed supply of 150.24 billion tokens, none of which can be minted beyond the cap. 40% of the supply is being distributed through the public presale, while 5% is reserved for staking rewards, paid daily from a smart contract pool at a 64% APY.

A dedicated Maxi Fund — approximately 25% of the supply — is intended to pay for project exposure, partner events, and futures venue tie-ups. Holder contests are planned as a recurring feature.

pic.twitter.com/Vg6OpDX6Bq

— MaxiDoge (@MaxiDoge_) August 13, 2026

The MAXI presale is live at $0.0002837 per token and has taken in roughly $4.86 million toward a stage target of about $5.20 million. Tokens can be staked for the 64% APY immediately upon purchase, so the yield begins before any exchange listing, and the smart contract has been audited by SolidProof and Coinsult.

After the presale closes, the project will list on a decentralized exchange and is working toward centralized venues, with futures partnerships also on the roadmap. This package is cited as the reason the Maxi Doge presale raise has kept growing while listed coins move in both directions. The upcoming LAPTOP launch has added another burst of attention to the meme coin space, and Maxi Doge is converting that attention into a funded treasury, a locked staking float, and a listing calendar.

Maxi Doge's $4.86M Raise and 64% Staking Yield Draw Retail and Whale Attention

During the current presale stage, MAXI is priced at $0.0002837 per token, with the staking pool paying rewards at 64% APY. Approximately $4.86 million has been raised so far, and backers point to the project's near-$5 million raise, live high-APY staking yield, and upcoming DEX and CEX listings as factors drawing attention from retail buyers and whales alike amid the current wave of interest in meme coins.

Source: ICO Bench | Original report: CNN