Kanye West's YZY Money Surges 6,800% Then Dips 65% Amid Volatility and Risk Flags

Kanye West, the American rapper known for his polarizing public persona, launched a memecoin dubbed YZY Money on the Solana blockchain in late July and early August 2025. The token, tied to his Yeezy brand and his persona as “Ye,” briefly surged to a $3 billion market cap within minutes of its launch, only to experience a steep decline shortly thereafter [1]. The YZY memecoin became a flashpoint in the volatile world of cryptocurrency, drawing both admiration and scrutiny for its meteoric rise and subsequent collapse [2].

YZY Money rose nearly 6,800% on its first day, a typical pattern for many memecoins that leverage celebrity influence and speculative hype [6]. However, the rapid appreciation was followed by a drop of over 65%, raising concerns among analysts and investors. RugCheck, a commonly used tool for assessing smart contract risks, flagged the token for containing dangerous permissions that could facilitate rug pulls or other exploits [1].

The project came as a surprise to many, given West’s earlier public dismissal of the idea. In February 2025, he posted on X—later deleted—that he would not launch a crypto coin, stating that such tokens “prey on the fans” [2]. Despite this, he soon reversed course and announced YZY Money, which he described as a digital extension of his Yeezy brand.

YZY Money’s rise and fall have been compared to other memecoins that have emerged in recent years, which often see massive gains followed by sharp losses as market sentiment shifts. The project also underscored the risks associated with tokens that lack transparency or strong governance structures. Many investors who entered during the peak saw their holdings lose significant value in a short period [1][5].

YZY Money is part of a broader offering that includes a non-custodial Yzy Card and a payments processor. The website for YZY Money claims the token is designed to “put you in control, free from centralized authority,” yet the contract analysis suggests the opposite—offering the creator extensive control over the token’s parameters [1].

Critics argue that the token’s volatility and the lack of substantive information about its use case or development roadmap make it an unsuitable investment for most individuals. Despite this, YZY Money’s brief moment in the spotlight demonstrated the power of celebrity influence in driving interest and liquidity in the crypto market, even if that interest is often short-lived [5].

The YZY memecoin, along with its associated financial tools, has drawn sharp criticism for potentially reinforcing crypto’s problematic public image. The project has been seen as emblematic of the industry’s tendency to attract controversial figures and promote speculative assets without meaningful utility or long-term strategy [1]. As the token’s value plummeted, so did the confidence in its legitimacy, leaving many to question whether YZY Money was ever more than a brief, high-risk fad [6].

Sources:

[1] Blockworks – [https://blockworks.co/news/yzy-memecoin-last-thing-crypto-needs](https://blockworks.co/news/yzy-memecoin-last-thing-crypto-needs)

[2] WIRED – [https://www.wired.com/story/kanye-west-memecoin/](https://www.wired.com/story/kanye-west-memecoin/)

[4] The Cryptonomist – [https://en.cryptonomist.ch/2025/08/21/kanye-west-releases-new-meme-coin-yzy-best-crypto-to-buy-now/](https://en.cryptonomist.ch/2025/08/21/kanye-west-releases-new-meme-coin-yzy-best-crypto-to-buy-now/)

[5] CCN.com – [https://www.ccn.com/education/crypto/yzy-money-ye-3b-memecoin-dark-truth-explained/](https://www.ccn.com/education/crypto/yzy-money-ye-3b-memecoin-dark-truth-explained/)

[6] Bankless – [https://www.bankless.com/read/kanye-linked-memecoin-yzy-money-takes-crypto-twitter-by-storm](https://www.bankless.com/read/kanye-linked-memecoin-yzy-money-takes-crypto-twitter-by-storm)