Key Highlights
- TROVE token crashed over 95% after launch, falling from $0.02362 to $0.0004350, and is now trading at $0.0008362.
- Investors call the launch a scam, citing no refunds, poor communication, and undisclosed influencer promotions.
- Trove Markets abruptly shifted from Hyperliquid to Solana after raising $11.5M in ICO, sparking refund demands.
Trove Markets, once the darling of the collectibles-derivatives sector, has suffered a catastrophic collapse of both its token price and its reputation. Just hours after its January 19 Token Generation Event (TGE), the TROVE token plummeted 95%.
The crash comes on the heels of a highly controversial decision to abandon the Hyperliquid ecosystem in favor of Solana, just one week after raising $11.5 million from investors under the premise of a Hyperliquid-native launch.
Its fully diluted valuation fell from around $20 million to under $1 million and currently stands at around $867k, wiping out most early investors’ holdings.
Current value per token stands at $0.0008362, with a market capitalization of approximately $795,000. However, the token attained a high of $0.02362, with a low of $0.0004350. Additionally, the token has a trading volume of $2.46 million in the past 24 hours.
TROVE has a total token supply of 1 billion, near saturation, in more than 2,100 wallets. Liquidity remains very low at $38,350, and token volatility stands at 65.7%, ranging in prices between $0.000644 and $0.000833.
From $11.5M raise to 95% wipeout
Investors are labeling the launch a “textbook rug pull” following a series of erratic moves by the development team. Trove raises $11.5 million in a public initial coin offering (ICO), explicitly marketing itself as a cornerstone of the Hyperliquid ($HYPE) ecosystem.
On-chain sleuths, including ZachXBT, flag a wallet linked to Trove dumping 194,000 HYPE tokens ($10M) in just 24 hours. The founder denies control, yet the sales continue. Trove abruptly announces it is abandoning Hyperliquid for Solana, claiming a liquidity partner withdrew the 500,000 HYPE stake required for launch.
This sudden turn of events has left many investors angry and frustrated. Many of these investors have taken to social media to express their frustration, accusing the team of running a scam or a rug pull.
Users have been astonished at the 95% reduction in cost, the lack of refunds, and the lack of communication from the team. Users are asking for accountability.
Some people also raised concerns that influencers were paid to promote the token without being clear about it, and that some funds may have been used for gambling. Overall, trust in the project is very low.
Pivot to Solana and ICO concerns
On January 19, Trove Markets surprised investors by announcing a shift from the Hyperliquid ecosystem to building its decentralized perpetual exchange on Solana.
The move followed a liquidity partner withdrawing 500,000 HYPE tokens, which were critical for the original Hyperliquid-based plan. The team said this forced a complete rebuild of the exchange on Solana.
Many investors are now demanding full refunds, citing that they invested under the expectation of a Hyperliquid-based product.
Token sales and allegations
Controversy grew when on-chain data showed wallets linked to Trove sold nearly 194,000 HYPE tokens (around $10 million) in 24 hours.
These tokens had been staked for Hyperliquid integration. While the founder said one wallet was not under his control, sales reportedly continued minutes later, raising suspicions of insider selling or compromised wallet access.
Other community members even suspected that funds were used for gambling or other suspicious activities, further shaking the confidence of people in the project.
The launch of TROVE tokens is another example of challenges associated with early-stage crypto initiatives. The sudden changing of roadmaps, lack of appropriate communication, and improper management of funds, have led to a loss of confidence among investors
Until the Trove team addresses these concerns, the token’s future remains uncertain, serving as a cautionary example of the importance of trust and transparency in cryptocurrency markets.
Also Read: Magic Eden CEO Unveils Token Buyback Program, Predicts Supercycle
