Meme Coins by Celebs & Countries: A Cycle of Chaos
- Niv Oz
- Aug 21
- 2 min read

Kanye Drops $YZY—and It’s Not the First Time
Kanye West (Ye) has just launched a new memecoin on Solana called YZY, part of his “YZY Money” ecosystem that includes Ye Pay and a YZY Card for spending crypto. Initially, the token rocketed to a staggering $3 billion market cap—only to crash shortly thereafter. Market watchers flagged unusual insider trading patterns immediately following the launch.
It’s a familiar pattern: hype-driven pumps—celebrity involvement brings viral attention—and sharp crashes as insiders cash out.
Meme Coins by Celebs & Countries: A Cycle of Chaos
This isn’t unique to Kanye. Celebrity and national leader memecoins have now become a recurring—and dangerous—narrative in crypto:
Trump & Melania ($TRUMP, $MELANIA): Trump’s $TRUMP surged to a $27 billion valuation, enriching insiders. But many retail investors lost billions.
Argentina’s $LIBRA: Endorsed by then-President Milei, it skyrocketed and nearly wiped out investor capital within hours.
Other celebrity coins: Iggy Azalea’s $MOTHER and Caitlyn Jenner’s $JENNER saw brief spikes followed by steep sell-offs.
Experts highlight the core flaw: influencer-backed hype creates quick buzz—but only roots of genuine, grassroots communities deliver long-term value.
Why These Aren’t for the Faint of Heart
These coins are often:
Pump-and-dump schemes or rug pulls, with founders or insiders selling out while retail investors hold losses.
Legally murky, sometimes prompting potential legislation—like the proposed MEME Act aiming to block public officials from issuing memecoins.
Ethically troubling—some token launches even sprung up after tragedies, commodifying tragedy into tradable assets.
Web3 Is a Gift—and a Trap
Meme coins can be intoxicating. The viral thrill is real. But for the uninitiated, they’re often financial traps. Web3 offers revolutionary tools—but it also rewards delay, discipline, and conviction.
Stick with Conviction Coins instead
If you believe in crypto, anchor yourself with assets that deliver:
Genuine communities: Protocols with active users, open governance, and engaged ownership.
Real utility: Tokens powering DeFi platforms, playable NFTs, collaboration layers like Luxaverse, or DAO-driven ecosystems.
Transparency: Clear vesting schedules, audited contracts, and fair token distribution.
In short: go where there’s substance—not just soundbites or celebrity clout.
Memecoins like YZY aren’t building—just burning hype. If you’re not a sniper with lightning-fast exit strategies—stepping onto that stage could cost you.
Web3 can be a path to ownership, culture, and innovation—but only if you separate signal from noise.
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