WHITEWHALE Surges Past $100 Million Valuation After Community Takeover

The White Whale memecoin has surpassed a $100 million valuation, marking a 660% increase over two weeks and a 40x rise in a month. The token's resurgence follows a community takeover (CTO) led by White Whale, who began distributing pumpfun creator fees back to token holders. Bybit's recent listing of WHITEWHALE introduced a new trading pair and reward campaign to stimulate liquidity and trading activity.

The White Whale memecoin, originally launched as a joke, has experienced a remarkable surge in valuation. The token initially targeted a trader dubbed "The White Whale" but later gained traction when the original team abandoned it in October. Following the CTO led by White Whale and notable KOLS, the token's value has grown significantly, with WHITEWHALE up 660% over the past two weeks.

The CTO shifted the token's strategy from self-accumulation to a redistribution model, where pumpfun creator fees are returned to token holders. White Whale highlighted on X that his focus on value creation for others led to the token's success. This strategy has driven both community engagement and price appreciation, making WHITEWHALE the first pumpfun token to surpass a $100 million market capitalization in almost a year.

Bybit's recent listing of WHITEWHALE includes a WHITEWHALE/USDT pair and a 3 million WHITEWHALE reward campaign for traders and depositors. This initiative is expected to stimulate liquidity and attract speculative demand. Additionally, the token's transition from Bybit Alpha to the main spot market reflects positive market activity and community engagement, potentially enhancing its liquidity and trading depth.

What Drives the White Whale's Resurgence?

The White Whale's resurgence is driven by a community-led initiative that includes the redistribution of pumpfun creator fees to token holders. This approach aligns with investor interests and has led to a significant price increase. White Whale's focus on value creation for others has been a key factor in the token's success, demonstrating the importance of community-driven strategies in the memecoin space.

The CTO strategy has enabled the token to maintain a large portion of its supply under the control of the CTO team, which has supported the token's massive uptrend. This control suggests that the token's success is closely tied to the actions of the CTO team, highlighting the influence of key stakeholders in memecoin dynamics.

What Are the Implications for the Memecoin Market?

The White Whale's success may spark renewed interest in the memecoin space, as it demonstrates the potential for community-driven strategies to drive price appreciation. The token's valuation surge and the CTO's redistribution model could set a precedent for other memecoin projects. This trend may encourage more investors to participate in the memecoin market, especially if similar strategies are adopted by other projects.

However, the success of WHITEWHALE also raises questions about the role of key stakeholders in memecoin dynamics. The CTO team's control over a large portion of the supply suggests that the token's future may depend on the actions of these stakeholders. This dynamic highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in memecoin projects, as investor trust can be easily influenced by the actions of key stakeholders.

What Risks Are Associated With WHITEWHALE's Growth?

Despite the positive developments, the White Whale-MEXC dispute resurfaced in early 2026, raising concerns about operational transparency and user fund control in centralized exchanges. The dispute involves allegations that MEXC traded against its users during the White Whale perpetual futures launch. These concerns highlight the risks associated with centralized exchanges and the potential for conflicts of interest.

The dispute also reignites broader concerns about the balance of power between centralized exchanges and their users. The recent allegations against MEXC have sparked debate about the need for greater transparency and accountability in centralized crypto markets. This situation underscores the importance of considering the reliability and trustworthiness of exchanges when investing in memecoins.

The White Whale-MEXC dispute also highlights the potential for reputational and financial consequences for exchanges involved in such conflicts. The latest chapter of the dispute does not confirm wrongdoing but illustrates the ongoing challenges in ensuring fair execution and price discovery in centralized markets. These concerns may impact investor confidence in centralized exchanges and could drive interest in decentralized alternatives.