Highlights:
- Vitalik Buterin’s sale of 17.1 billion Neiro tokens initially caused the token’s price to drop 60%.
- Neiro token’s price later surged by 200%, reaching an all-time high of $0.000038 on August 5.
- Neiro developers asked Buterin to donate part of his proceeds to a stray dog shelter, highlighting a charitable angle.
In the early hours of Monday, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin sold 17.145 billion Neiro tokens, equivalent to 4.08% of the total supply. According to Etherscan data, Buterin converted his tokens into 44.53 Ether, valued at approximately $112,500. This action led to an immediate 60% drop in the Neiro token’s value, raising concerns about the risks associated with memecoins.
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Vitalik dumped the Meme Neiro on Ethereum. Neiro transferred 17.1 billion Neiros (4% of the total) to Vitalik's address, and used this to promote Vitalik as the largest holder. Vitalik then sold the 17.1 billion Neiros in exchange for 44.4 ETH, causing the price of Neiro to…
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) August 5, 2024
The Neiro project, inspired by the famous Doge meme, had given Buterin this significant token amount, positioning him as the largest holder. The project intended to use its strategic reserve of tokens for potential exchange listings and charitable donations. Following the sell-off, Neiro’s team posted on social media, specifically on platform X, asking Buterin to consider donating some of his proceeds to a stray dog shelter.
The statement read:
Hey Vitalik Buterin, we see that you sold your Neiro bag. We humbly ask that you donate part of the proceeds to a stray dog shelter. We thank you for building our playground.
Neiro’s Unexpected Market Turnaround
Despite the initial downturn, Neiro token prices experienced a remarkable recovery. According to DexScreener, the token surged by over 200%, reaching an all-time high of $0.000038 by August 5. This turnaround highlighted the volatility and unpredictable nature of memecoins, especially those attempting to gain traction by associating with influential figures like Buterin.
The token developers had previously reported a donation of nearly $1,600 to a Japanese stray dog shelter, which is home to the rescued Neiro dog, the inspiration behind the memecoin. This connection to animal welfare added a charitable dimension to the project’s identity.
Memecoins often leverage cultural trends and influencer backing to create buzz, and Neiro is no exception. However, this strategy comes with inherent risks. Memecoins like Neiro can experience drastic price fluctuations, making them susceptible to market manipulations and investor speculation.
Buterin’s Influence and Market Impact
Buterin’s decision to sell his Neiro holdings significantly impacted the market. Initially, investors were concerned about the potential loss of value, leading to a steep decline. However, the subsequent price increase indicated renewed interest and trading activity. This pattern reflects the cryptocurrency market’s dynamic nature, where sudden sentiment changes can result in rapid price swings.
Moreover, WuBlockchain, a journalist and blockchain blogger, clarified that the tokens Buterin sold were on the Ethereum network. This distinction was important as multiple tokens with the Neiro name exist, including scam versions on various platforms. This clarification helped investors understand the specific Neiro token associated with Buterin’s transaction.
In late July, blockchain investigator Wazz had warned about the potential risks associated with the largest Neiro token on Ethereum, describing it as a “honeypot.” These warnings underscore the challenges investors face when navigating the complex and often volatile world of memecoins.
Beware, biggest $NEIRO token on Ethereum is a honeypot
It bypasses most automated scan tests but owner is constantly calling AutomatedMarketMaker() with addresses, which modifies the transfer() function, likely blacklisting any new buyers.
Most scans are not detecting this pic.twitter.com/HE5H3tEoqt
— Wazz (@WazzCrypto) July 28, 2024
Memecoins, notorious for their market instability, witnessed a broader downturn, with the total meme market cap dropping around 22% to $30 billion. The recent events involving Neiro exemplify the unpredictable nature of such tokens.
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