Tokenized Politics Monetizes Populism

Populist figures and events are being paired with bespoke crypto tokens and sponsor watermarks, creating direct financial stakes for influencers and rally organizers. Because token prices hinge on hype and insider positioning, this blurs campaigning with pump‑and‑dump dynamics and invites undisclosed self‑dealing. — It raises urgent questions for campaign finance, consumer protection, and platform policies as political movements adopt crypto instruments that can double as speculative vehicles.