Viral Fame, Volatile Finance: SEC Closes Book on 'Hawk Tuah' Crypto Drama

As detailed in a recent disclosure from American entertainment media outlet TMZ, Haliey “Hawk Tuah” Welch announced the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has concluded its inquiry, issuing no charges or penalties against her.

Hawk Tuah’s Legal Odyssey Ends With SEC Pass

Welch, a 22-year-old Tennessee native, catapulted into viral stardom in June 2024 following a candid sidewalk exchange where her irreverent advice—“You gotta give them that Hawk Tuah and spit on that thing”—ignited internet fervor, cementing her moniker as the “Hawk Tuah Girl.”

Capitalizing on her sudden cultural imprint, she swiftly unveiled the podcast “Talk Tuah” and ventured into the digital currency sphere with a Solana-based meme token. Haliey’s foray into cryptocurrency propelled the HAWK token to a fleeting peak of $490 million in market valuation upon its arrival, only to unravel spectacularly hours later—erasing 95% of its worth and incinerating millions in investor funds.

This whimsical rise and abrupt disintegration ignited claims of orchestrated market manipulation, with disgruntled traders alleging a classic pump and dump ploy, their grievances crystallizing in litigation targeting those linked to HAWK’s rollout. The fallout intensified as aggrieved investors amplified their outcry, channeling frustrations into formal complaints.

A December Rolling Stone exposé noted at least one participant escalated concerns to the SEC, injecting fresh scrutiny into the token’s turbulent trajectory—a saga blending viral ambition with the volatile theatrics of meme-driven finance. Now things have changed, and a TMZ editorial notes that the SEC is not investigating Welch.

Hawk Tuah Girl told the entertainment news outlet:

For the past few months, I’ve been cooperating with all the authorities and attorneys, and finally, that work is complete.

Welch’s legal attorney, James Sallah, told TMZ in the report that her path in future crypto-related ventures remains unshackled. The SEC, under the Trump administration, has abandoned numerous regulatory actions and legal challenges this year. The TMZ report discussed Welch’s alignment with Burwick Law, while the publication theorized that collaborators could have “deceived or misadvised” her.