PNUT, FRED, and Harambe Tokens Spark Viral Frenzy

Dogecoin may have led the way as the original meme coin, but recent animal-themed coins are experiencing explosive growth, tapping into viral real-life stories that have captured the internet’s attention. From a viral squirrel and raccoon to internet-famous animals like Harambe, these new tokens are gaining momentum—and millions in market capitalization—on the heels of their emotional appeal and community-driven narratives.

PNUT and FRED: The Rise of Animal-Inspired Solana Meme Coins

Among these tokens is PNUT, inspired by Peanut the Squirrel, who was tragically seized and euthanized by New York state officials due to unfounded rabies concerns. The incident sparked outrage online, especially after Elon Musk amplified the story on social media, linking it to election news. In response, a Solana-based meme coin, PNUT, was created and listed on Binance. It soared past a $1.5 billion market cap, surging by 1,524% over the past week, reaching a price of $1.73, according to CoinGecko.

Meanwhile, Peanut’s fellow pet, Fred the raccoon, was also euthanized by state officials under similar circumstances. Following confirmation that neither animal had rabies, community outrage intensified, leading to the creation of another Solana-based token, First Convicted Raccon (FRED). Despite the misspelling, FRED has seen its market cap rise 383% in the last 24 hours, reaching $129 million.

Other Viral Animals See Meme Coin Success

Peanut and Fred aren’t alone in capturing the crypto community’s attention. Other animals with viral stories have also inspired meme coins that are currently surging. Harambe, the beloved gorilla who became an internet legend, is represented by the HARAMBE token on Solana, which is up 92% in the past week. Similarly, the Keyboard Cat meme has inspired KEYCAT on Ethereum’s Base layer-2 network, climbing 128% over the same period.

Other popular meme tokens include Moo Deng (MOODENG), named after a viral pygmy hippopotamus, which has increased by 96%, and Neiro (NEIRO), another popular token that’s up 39% this week.

The Battle for Jorgie Boy: Meme Coins for Animal Advocacy

In Texas, two meme coins have emerged around Jorgie Boy, a pet monkey taken from his owner, Instagram influencer Brandi Botello, after a car crash involving DWI charges. With two Jorgie-inspired tokens, each claiming to support his freedom, both tokens have reached market caps of $4 million and $12 million, respectively.

As the crypto market embraces animal-inspired meme coins, the emotional narratives behind these tokens are driving massive gains. From viral squirrels to legendary internet animals, these tokens reflect a unique blend of nostalgia, advocacy, and community spirit that continues to captivate the crypto space. As new stories and tokens emerge, the meme coin trend shows no signs of slowing down, fueled by the collective interest in rallying behind beloved, and sometimes tragic, real-world figures.