Presale Raises Only 39% of Minimum Target
A crypto project promoted by UFC star and entrepreneur Conor McGregor has failed to meet its funding goals, forcing developers to issue full refunds to participants. The token, called REAL (REAL), raised only $392,315 in USDC during a 28-hour sealed-bid auction, falling well short of its $1 million minimum target and only achieving about 11% of the intended $3.6 million hard cap.
The sale, hosted by Real World Gaming (RWG) on April 5–6, aimed to sell 60 million REAL tokens—3% of the total supply—at a starting price of $0.06 per token, implying a fully diluted valuation of $120 million.
“We need to be real. We didn’t hit our minimum raise,” RWG wrote in an April 6 post on X.
“All bids will be refunded in full.”
Ladies and gentlemen, this is REAL! https://t.co/uhBgjAHotX
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 6, 2025
McGregor’s Attempt at a ‘Legit’ Celebrity Token Falls Flat
In promotional materials, Conor McGregor positioned the REAL token as a cut above the typical celebrity-endorsed crypto projects, which are often plagued by rug pulls and poor follow-through.
“This isn’t some celebrity-endorsed bullshit token,” McGregor had claimed.
“It’s a REAL game changer that will improve the crypto ecosystem as well as make REAL change in the world.”
Despite the bold rhetoric, the market response was tepid, suggesting either misaligned timing, overambitious targets, or growing investor fatigue toward celebrity-driven token launches.
Market Conditions Played a Role
The REAL presale came at a time of market turbulence. On April 3 and 4, U.S. equity markets saw a record-setting $6.6 trillion in losses, and Bitcoin dropped below $78,000, dragged down by recession fears following President Trump’s sweeping tariff announcements.
The memecoin sector, once valued at over $100 billion, has also cooled sharply. As of April 7, the sector had fallen below $44 billion, according to CoinGecko, and is down 13% over the past 24 hours.
This environment was further shaken by the LIBRA token scandal, tied to Argentine President Javier Milei, which left investors cautious of politically or celebrity-linked tokens.
Final Thoughts: Timing, Trust, and Tokenomics
While Real World Gaming stated, “This is not the end,” the REAL token’s failed launch underscores a few harsh realities:
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Celebrity hype is no longer enough to guarantee success in crypto.
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Sealed-bid auctions and aggressive valuations can deter investor interest, especially during bearish market conditions.
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Transparency and long-term utility matter more than name recognition.
For McGregor, who recently entered Irish politics, the REAL token misfire may serve as a reminder that while brand power opens doors, product-market fit and trust remain essential in the maturing crypto space.
Whether RWG revives the project or pivots entirely, one thing is clear: in today’s market, even “Notorious” backing can’t punch through a bearish macro backdrop.
