Financial Cryptocurrency Investors Reap Benefits from Charlie Kirk's Tragic Death, Sparking Debate on Moral Boundaries
In the wake of the tragic assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, social media has been abuzz with discussions about those profiting from the unfortunate event. Four meme coins were created and traded, reaching significant market caps, and collectively generating more than $2 million in profits for creators and top traders.
The largest of these coins, a Solana token named "Justice for Iryna", reached a market cap of $33.8 million. The deployer of this token earned a substantial $190,920 in creator fees alone. However, the top five traders of this token and the death penalty token, which also referenced Kirk's death, collectively profited $661,700 and $506,000, respectively.
Not all voices in the cryptocurrency community condone this practice. PumpSwap livestreamer Jytol expressed his discomfort, stating that profiting off someone's death, especially an event of Kirk's magnitude, is sickening. Pseudonymous meme coin trader WombatAF also voiced his disapproval, stating that death isn't funny and that those profiting off these meme coins are the problem with crypto.
On the other hand, prominent pseudonymous meme coin trader 0xWinged and Scorched Earth Policy, chief of staff at the Remilia Corporation, defended the practice, claiming that anything is fair game in meme coin trading and that market participants have a "constantly oscillating barrier of tolerance towards distaste".
In response to the controversy, some meme coin traders are calling for Pump.fun to add filters that prevent the creation of coins that profit from shootings and violence. However, Pump.fun maintains that it did not violate any of its guidelines with the creation of these meme coins.
The controversy doesn't end there. Tokens referencing the deadly protests in Nepal are also available, and a "9/11 token" is currently in circulation. Despite the ongoing discussions, no credible or specific sources have been identified that name any persons who created and sold the "$CHARLIE Kirk-Coins" after the death of Charlie Kirk.
Part of the creator fees from the "Justice for Iryna" token were donated to a GoFundMe for Iryna Zarutska's family, the alleged victim of the deadly protests in Nepal. However, the question remains: is it acceptable to profit from tragedy in the name of meme coin trading?
As the cryptocurrency market continues to evolve, so too does the debate over the ethical boundaries of meme coin trading. It seems that for some, anything goes, while others believe that decency and respect should always prevail. The future of this controversial practice remains to be seen.
