Haliey Welch, the internet personality known as "Hawk Tuah Girl," announced Friday that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has concluded its investigation into her involvement with the HAWK cryptocurrency without filing any charges.
"For the past few months, I've been cooperating with all the authorities and attorneys, and finally, that work is complete," Welch told TMZ. Her attorney confirmed that the SEC closed the probe without seeking monetary sanctions or placing restrictions on her future cryptocurrency activities.
The investigation stemmed from December's launch of the HAWK meme coin on the Solana blockchain, which saw its market value rapidly climb to $490 million before crashing 93% within minutes. While the public was aware of a civil lawsuit against the token's creators, the SEC's investigation into Welch had not been previously disclosed.
The civil lawsuit continues against several parties including crypto launchpad overHERE, its founder Clinton So, influencer Alex Larson Schultz (known as "Doc Hollywood"), and the Tuah the Moon Foundation. Notably, Welch is not named as a defendant.
In earlier statements, Welch expressed regret over her crypto endeavors, acknowledging limited understanding of cryptocurrency when she got involved. Sources indicate she has now cut ties with the LLC behind the HAWK token and does not plan to promote cryptocurrency projects in the future.
The Tennessee native, who gained fame through a viral street interview, is now focusing on new ventures, including an upcoming documentary profiling her rise to internet stardom.
The HAWK token saw a 25% price increase following Friday's news, reaching a market cap of $4 million with $333,000 in trading volume over 24 hours, according to crypto data provider GeckoTerminal.
The SEC maintained its standard policy of not commenting on possible investigations when contacted for additional details.