What is Meteora (MET)?

Meteora has recently emerged as a notable project in the Solana ecosystem, aiming to innovate decentralized exchange (DEX) liquidity through advanced integrations and dynamic pools. However, the highly anticipated $MET token launch was met with dramatic price volatility and controversy, leading to questions about and opportunities for its future.

This guide provides a complete review of Meteora’s price performance since launch, the circumstances of its crash, the much-discussed link to the Trump family, and price predictions for the years ahead.

Source: CoinMarketCap

Meteora Price Performance Since Launch: Why Did It Crash?

Meteora’s Token Generation Event (TGE) occurred on October 23, 2025, following months of anticipation from the Solana community. Unlike many recent projects, Meteora refrained from a traditional fundraising ICO or private sale. Instead, the protocol opted for a direct airdrop model—distributing MET to Mercurial stakeholders, Meteora liquidity providers, JUP stakers, and select launchpad partners. At launch, approximately 48% of the MET supply entered circulation, a notably high percentage relative to typical Solana launches.

Despite the fair launch ambitions, MET’s price trajectory was volatile from day one. The token debuted at a promising price (above $0.60 according to CoinMarketCap ), but crashed rapidly—falling over 70% within hours as recipients of the airdrop rushed to liquidate their tokens on secondary markets like OKX. Trading volume spiked and the token’s market cap tumbled, triggering concern among both retail and institutional holders.

The Triggers Behind the Meteora Crash

Several key triggers catalyzed the sell-off and subsequent price collapse:

1. Airdrop Economics and Unlocks
Having 48% of the token supply in circulation at launch introduced significant sell pressure. Many airdrop recipients opted to immediately cash out—especially those with large allocations—causing a liquidity shock and overwhelming early buy demand.

2. External Lawsuits and Reputational Crisis
On the very day of launch, federal class action lawsuits were filed against Meteora’s co-founder, Benjamin Chow, alleging a series of coordinated pump-and-dump schemes involving well-publicized tokens like $M3M3, $LIBRA, $MELANIA, $ENRON, and $TRUST. The allegations were further amplified when blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence revealed that three wallets—directly associated with the team behind the $TRUMP token and its liquidity providers—received a staggering $4.2 million worth of MET in the airdrop. All three promptly deposited their tokens on OKX, fueling fears of insider profit-taking.

3. Liquidity Drain
Immediately after launch, the deployer wallet was observed withdrawing over $110 million in USDC from the protocol’s liquidity pools—removing essential price support and accelerating the token’s nosedive.

Meteora’s Link With the Trump Family

A sensational subplot to the crash involved high-profile US and Argentine political families. The class action suit claimed Ben Chow and associates weaponized celebrity endorsements from Melania Trump and Argentina’s President Javier Milei to lure retail investors into fraudulent tokens.

Analysis showed that wallets associated with the $MELANIA and $TRUMP liquidity provisioning received a significant portion of the Meteora airdrop. These wallets immediately cashed out, coinciding with breaking news of Chow’s court case. Curiously, other wallets linked to suspected fraudulent projects like $AIAI and $M3M3 did not receive any MET. The legal complaint seeks not only damages and the disgorgement of ill-gotten profits but also court-appointed oversight of Meteora’s smart contract operations—casting a substantial shadow over the project’s ethical standing and future governance.

What Is Meteora?

Meteora is a next-generation decentralized exchange built on Solana and launched by the team previously behind Mercurial Finance. Meteora aims to solve the liquidity fragmentation problem in DeFi by offering dynamic liquidity pools, deep aggregation with other DEX platforms (particularly Solana’s Jupiter), and integrated launchpad services. The Meteora protocol draws fees and incentives from a dynamic range of trading pools, adapting to user demand and ecosystem trends.

At the time of launch, Meteora allocated 15% of its total supply to previous Mercurial stakeholders, 5% to Mercurial reserves, and began distributing a further 15% through an ongoing points campaign. Its launch marked one of the highest initial circulating supplies (48%) in Solana DEX history.

How Does Meteora Work?

Meteora operates as a DEX on Solana, distinguished by:

• Tight Jupiter Integration: As Solana’s largest DEX aggregator, Jupiter serves as a go-to trading interface for retail users. Meteora leverages this integration to drive high on-chain volume to its liquidity pools.

• Dynamic Pools: Unlike static DEX pools, Meteora’s pools use algorithmic fee and liquidity adjustment to maximize capital efficiency and yield.

• Launchpad Collaborations: Meteora has partnered with Moonshot and other launchpads (Believe, BAGS, Jup Studio) to onboard new assets, increasing trading volumes and protocol fees.

Over 90% of recent Meteora revenue has come from memecoin pools—which, often volatile, command higher trading fees than standard SOL/stablecoin or project token pairs.

Why Is Meteora Making Waves in the Solana Ecosystem?

Despite the crash, Meteora has established itself as a core liquidity and innovation hub on Solana:

• Volume and Revenue: Meteora recorded $8.8 million in revenue from its pools in just the last 30 days, with weekly income consistently at or above $1.5 million—even during bearish chain conditions.

• High Initial Float: With nearly half its supply circulating at launch, Meteora set itself apart from DeFi trends favoring locked or low-float tokens.

• Strong Strategic Partnerships: Robust collaborations with Jupiter, Moonshot, and the inclusion of prominent Solana launchpads provide Meteora with deep reach and high protocol throughput.

These factors, alongside the protocol’s technical features, have supported significant organic trading activity—though also amplifying sell pressure and risk, as seen in the airdrop event fallout.

Can Meteora Price Bounce Back? | Meteora Price Predictions (2025, 2026, 2030)

Price Outlook Summary:

• Fundamental Valuation: Using leading Solana DEXs Raydium (RAY) and Orca (ORCA) as comparisons, market sales ratios remain in the 6–10x range (market cap to annualized revenue). Meteora’s run-rate revenue in 2025 was estimated at $75–115 million—suggesting a possible fair value range of $450M to $1.1B at a 6-10x multiple.

• 2025 Prediction: If legal and reputational risks subside and Solana’s DeFi sector grows, a recovery toward $0.70–$1.10 per MET is plausible, mirroring market cap ranges of $450M–$1.1B. Significant upside remains capped unless growth accelerates or risk premium declines.

• 2026–2030 Scenarios: Sustained product adoption and an improved governance structure could see MET approach comparable DEXs’ valuation ranges ($1–2.50 per MET, assuming steady or growing protocol revenue). Conversely, further controversy or failed governance could trigger additional downside and dilution.

• Bear Case: Persistent legal action, future airdrop sell pressure, or loss of key partnerships could push MET below $0.25 and erode protocol TVL.

Market recovery and future price sustainability will depend primarily on (a) the management team’s response to legal challenges, (b) ability to restore community and partner trust, (c) continued technical innovation, and (d) overall Solana ecosystem health.

Conclusion

Meteora’s rapid launch and subsequent crash underscore the complexity and risk in today’s DeFi environment. While Meteora boasts innovative features and strong ecosystem partnerships, the protocol must navigate significant legal, ethical, and governance challenges before reclaiming investor confidence and sustainable growth. The fate of the $MET token will ultimately be decided by the team’s reform efforts, the evolution of the legal situation, and Solana’s broader trajectory.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are for informational purposes only. This article does not constitute an endorsement of any of the products and services discussed or investment, financial, or trading advice. Qualified professionals should be consulted prior to making financial decisions.