Rumours about U.S. President Joe Biden's death have led to a surge in political meme coins. These digital assets have quickly gained traction among cryptocurrency enthusiasts.
Biden Dead (BIDEAD) and Biden Done (BIDONE)
Two prominent coins, Biden Dead (BIDEAD) and Biden Done (BIDONE), were launched recently. BIDEAD reached a market cap of $660,000 shortly after its creation. BIDONE, featuring a cartoon of Biden’s skeleton, followed suit with a market cap of $567,000.
Pump.fun Platform
Pump.fun has become a hub for tokens related to these rumours. Seven out of the top ten tokens on this platform reference Biden's supposed death, while another celebrates his survival.
Origin of Rumours
The rumours originated from a tweet by Global Press, claiming Biden was “unlikely to survive the night” after testing positive for COVID-19. This claim was countered by a community note on Twitter, citing a letter from Biden’s physician affirming his normal vitals. The Associated Press also reported that Biden’s symptoms had nearly resolved.
Conspiracy Theorists and Market Reactions
Despite being debunked, conspiracy theorists, including Alex Jones, have amplified these rumours. This has led to continued investment in related meme coins. For instance, BidenDeadAugust15 (BIDEAD) predicted Biden’s death at midnight on August 15. This token saw a significant price spike when Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race and again after the COVID-19 rumour, before plummeting 67% once the tweet was debunked.
Jeo Boden Coin
Another coin, Jeo Boden (BODEN), a misspelled Biden meme coin on Solana, surged 148% in the past 24 hours, although it remains 98% below its all-time high from April.
The rapid rise and fall of these meme coins underscore the volatility and speculative risks associated with cryptocurrency trading, especially when based on unfounded rumours.