Kanye West's YZY Token Surges 1400% Amid Celebrity-Driven Meme Coin Frenzy

The same trader behind the $100 million profit from the TRUMP meme coin has once again made headlines, this time for being the first buyer of Kanye West’s YZY token [1]. Known in the blockchain space as “Naseem,” the trader spent $250,000 in USDC to secure $1.2 million worth of YZY tokens in the coin’s initial moments [2]. This move highlights the trader’s strategic position in the memecoin space and his history of exploiting early opportunities with high-visibility projects.

YZY, launched on the Solana blockchain, quickly drew massive attention, surging 1,400% in value before experiencing a sharp pullback. At its peak, the token briefly reached a fully diluted valuation of $3 billion [4]. However, like most memecoins, it saw rapid volatility, with insiders and early investors cashing out as the price dropped by 74% within days [5]. The token’s brief success underscores the unpredictable nature of the memecoin market, where speculative momentum can quickly fade.

YZY’s launch included an “anti-sniping system” designed to prevent front-running by generating 25 contract addresses, with one randomly selected as the official token. Despite these efforts, multiple traders managed to identify the correct address or push through priority transactions to claim early gains [3]. One trader spent $24,000 in gas fees to secure a $3.4 million profit, while another mistakenly bought the wrong token, losing $710,000 before recovering by purchasing the correct one [2]. These incidents demonstrate the competitive and high-stakes environment of memecoin trading.

Kanye West’s involvement marks a notable shift from his previous stance on celebrity-backed tokens. In February, he criticized such projects for exploiting fans, but in August, he promoted YZY on X, declaring it as part of a new economic system called Yeezy Money [2]. The platform envisions YZY as a digital currency integrated with a broader financial ecosystem, including debit cards and payment systems [7]. This development marks a departure from the speculative nature of most memecoins, potentially broadening their real-world utility.

High-profile traders and investors also expressed confidence in YZY. James Wynn, a prominent leveraged trader, described the move as a short-term opportunity with the potential to double or quadruple his investment [3]. Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, publicly confirmed his purchase of YZY, expressing optimism about the token’s future [2]. Their participation signals a level of credibility and interest, though it also highlights the speculative nature of the investment.

YZY’s launch is part of a growing trend of celebrity-driven tokens, with recent examples including Argentinian President Javier Milei’s endorsement of the LIBRA coin [3]. These projects often gain traction through social media hype and the influence of high-profile figures, creating a unique intersection between digital finance and pop culture. However, the rapid price swings and concentration of early profits among a few traders raise questions about market fairness and accessibility for retail investors.

As with the TRUMP coin, which surged from $4 billion to $15 billion in a single day, YZY’s performance underscores the volatile nature of memecoins. While they can generate substantial returns for early buyers, they also carry high risks and are often criticized for their speculative and short-term focus [2].

Source:

[1] Mitrade, https://www.mitrade.com/insights/news/live-news/article-3-1063679-20250823

[2] BeInCrypto, https://beincrypto.com/kanye-west-yzy-coin-libra-trump-connection/

[3] Bubblemaps, https://x.com/bubblemaps?lang=en

[4] AInvest, https://www.ainvest.com/news/tate-yzy-short-wins-game-rigged-retail-traders-2508/

[5] CoinCentral, https://coincentral.com/kanye-west-yzy-crypto-crashes-74-as-insiders-extract-24-5-million/

[7] X user, https://x.com/status/123456789