Obscure Token PENGUIN Jumps 564 % In 24 Hours

Can a simple meme trigger a frenzy in the crypto market? That’s exactly what a White House post showing a penguin alongside the US president caused. Within hours, the memecoin PENGUIN, unknown the day before, soared in value by more than 350 times. With no announcement, no news, this Solana token attracted a massive speculative wave, illustrating once again how the attention economy brutally reshapes market dynamics.

A presidential meme that propels an unknown token

On January 20, the White House posted on X an image of President Trump walking in the snow, accompanied by a penguin, while Pump.fun tries to restore order in the memecoin ecosystem.

At first glance, this content seemed like ordinary communication mixing humor and winter imagery. Yet, this post was enough to trigger a viral phenomenon centered on a hitherto confidential memecoin named PENGUIN.

The token, launched on Solana in late 2023, saw its valuation climb 564 % in a few hours, reaching $0.14. Promoted by crypto influencers, the post triggered a speculative frenzy with no apparent technical basis.

This surge generated unusual trading volumes and a market capitalization incomparable to the initial state of the project. According to figures collected by SolanaFloor :

• Trading volume on Solana DEXs jumped to $244 million, compared to less than $100,000 the day before ;

• Market capitalization rose from $387,000 to $136 million in less than 24 hours ;

• The token’s contract underwent no identifiable updates or technical modifications.

This phenomenon once again demonstrates that, in the memecoin ecosystem, the collective interpretation of a visual signal alone can provoke massive capital mobilization. The PENGUIN case also illustrates how quickly an image can be associated with a crypto without formal link, in a market hypersensitive to viral dynamics.

An unexpected resurgence of memecoins amid social tension

The PENGUIN surge occurs amid a brief speculative rebound on memecoins, while the sector had experienced a strong correction phase since mid-2024.

At the beginning of 2026, the total capitalization of the category briefly rebounded by 23 %, driven by Solana tokens like BONK, WEN, and MICHI. However, this rise seemed to falter when the PENGUIN case suddenly reignited activity.

Thus, the token’s performance contrasts with the general downtrend, making it an isolated event but symptomatic of a market where viral narratives can still dominate structural logics.

More than a hundred memecoins were launched or relaunched within 48 hours following PENGUIN’s explosion, mainly on Solana, Ethereum, and Base. This sudden resurgence also coincided with a strong rise in trading volumes on Solana DEXs, which surpassed those of Ethereum for several hours.

This is a strong signal regarding Solana’s continued role in fast speculation dynamics, driven by its low fees and reduced confirmation times. Analysts emphasize that these speculative episodes help maintain on-chain liquidity but also increase short-term volatility.

PENGUIN’s rapid rise shows the power of viral dynamics in a market where fundamental analysis often yields to emotion. This case also symbolizes the comeback of memecoins, capable of capturing attention and attracting massive flows even in the absence of tangible fundamentals.