Investors who bid on the REAL token promoted by former UFC champion Conor McGregor will receive a full refund, after the crypto project failed to meet its $1 million minimum funding requirement during its 28-hour presale event.
“We need to be real. We didn’t hit our minimum raise,” the developers of REAL, Real World Gaming (RWG), announced on April 6 via X.
“All bids will be refunded in full. This is not the end.”
Despite McGregor’s bold promises and high-profile backing, the project raised just $392,315 in USDC, less than half of its minimum and only 11% of the intended $3.6 million target.
The presale offered 60 million REAL tokens, representing 3% of the total 2 billion token supply, at a starting price of $0.06 via a sealed-bid auction format. The sale aimed for a fully diluted valuation of $120 million—but attracted just 668 participants, according to RWG data.
McGregor, known for his bombastic personality and entrepreneurial ventures, had positioned REAL as a breakaway from typical celebrity-endorsed crypto schemes.
Market Mayhem Undercuts Momentum
REAL’s failure may have more to do with timing than interest. The token launched amid one of the sharpest market downturns in recent memory. Between April 3 and 4, U.S. stocks lost an estimated $6.6 trillion in value, marking the largest two-day drop on record.
At the same time, Bitcoin slipped below $78,000, contributing to broader risk-off sentiment across the digital asset space.
The memecoin sector, once roaring with momentum, has also cooled significantly. Following the Official Trump token launch in January, traders have grown increasingly cautious. The Libra (LIBRA) token scandal involving Argentine President Javier Milei in February added fuel to the decline.
According to CoinGecko, the memecoin market has shrunk from $100 billion to under $44 billion, with a 13% drop in just the last 24 hours.
While RWG insists this isn’t the end of the road for REAL, the project now faces a steep climb. Restoring confidence, rebuilding momentum, and navigating a bear-leaning market will be no small task.
Whether McGregor and team relaunch under new conditions or pivot entirely remains unclear—but for now, the token joins the growing list of celebrity crypto ventures that failed to land.
Reality Check for the Hype Cycle
REAL’s flop is more than a footnote in crypto—it’s a sign of the times. In today’s market, celebrity isn’t a guarantee and buzz isn’t enough. Investors are demanding substance, and projects are being tested not just on ideas—but execution.
Until then, the only thing REAL is the refund.
