Donald Trump's newly minted cryptocurrency soared on Monday to top $9 billion in market value, drawing in billions in trading volume just hours ahead of the U.S. President-elect's return to the White House.

Donald Trump and his wife Melania’s new memecoins ignited criticism from crypto executives who were expecting the digital-asset sector to be treated seriously by the Republican’s incoming US administration.

The new business venture by the Trump family is generating intensifying criticism and ethics questions, even as it has turned into an overnight phenomenon, generating a windfall on paper.