In the wild world of memecoins, anything can happen—and it usually does. Case in point: Elon Musk’s spontaneous name change on X (formerly Twitter) to “Kekius Maximus,” a playful meme reference, led to one astute trader turning a modest $66 investment into an eye-popping $3 million in just 18 days.
Here’s the scoop on how the bizarre name change skyrocketed the value of the KEKIUS memecoin and made some lucky investors richer than they ever expected.
The Birth of Kekius Maximus: A Memecoin for the Ages
It all started on December 14 when a trader made the bold decision to invest in a brand-new Ethereum-based memecoin called Kekius Maximus (KEKIUS). What made this token different from the usual dog-themed coins was its meme-driven origin story, combining the infamous Pepe the Frog meme with Maximus Decimus Meridius—the epic protagonist from the 2000 film Gladiator, played by Russell Crowe.
Musk’s playful “Kekius Maximus” name change, which occurred on X on January 1, was a nod to the internet meme culture. It was enough to spark a massive surge in the price of KEKIUS tokens, causing a frenzy of trading activity.
From $66 to $3 Million: A 45,900-Fold Gain
What happened next was nothing short of insane. The trader, who initially invested just $66 worth of Ether to buy 10.17 million KEKIUS tokens on December 14, turned that small bet into a windfall. By January 1, they sold off 2.81 million of their tokens for 60.3 Ether—a jaw-dropping 45,900-fold gain! The market cap of the KEKIUS token had skyrocketed to $380 million, peaking on New Year’s Day.
If that doesn’t make you believe in the power of memecoins, we don’t know what will.
For those tracking the action, the KEKIUS token was first created on December 13 and had a modest market cap of around $11.4 million by December 31. But once Musk’s name change hit and his AI-generated images of a Pepe-Gladiator character in the Roman Colosseum started circulating, the coin went into overdrive. One of Musk’s posts even racked up 48.2 million views, sending the KEKIUS rally into the stratosphere.
A Quick, Wild Ride: The Surge and Sudden Drop
But as quickly as it soared, KEKIUS crashed. On January 1, as Musk reverted his name and profile back to the usual “Elon Musk,” the market cap of KEKIUS took a nosedive, falling to $100.5 million. The rollercoaster ride had come to an abrupt halt.
Despite the drop in value, more than 23,600 investors are still holding onto their KEKIUS tokens, according to CoinGecko data. Some are likely hoping for another surge or just enjoying the memecoin chaos for what it is—pure entertainment.
Why Did Musk’s Name Change Have Such an Impact?
While it might seem like a random move, Elon Musk’s name change wasn’t entirely without precedent. Musk has always been known for his love of memes, internet culture, and his ability to drive massive market movements with a single tweet (or name change, as it were). His influence is so far-reaching that even the smallest mention of a meme or the rebranding of his online persona can send crypto markets into a frenzy.
For example, the explosion of interest in Pepe the Frog, once an innocent cartoon character, has been transformed into an entire meme ecosystem—one that Musk, in his infinite meme genius, tapped into.
The Other Kekius Coins: A Flop on Solana
Interestingly, while the KEKIUS memecoin surged on Ethereum, several other Kekius Maximus-linked tokens launched on Solana around the same time—but they didn’t quite catch the same lightning in a bottle. While Solana is known for fast transactions and low fees, it wasn’t enough to convince traders to pour their money into these alternative versions of the meme token. Data from DEXScreener shows that these Solana-based versions failed to gain the same attention or traction.
Musk’s particular brand of internet magic seemed to be more in sync with Ethereum-based projects, leading to the massive surge in KEKIUS on that network.
A Bizarre Start to 2025: Musk’s New Year’s Mishap
Of course, as with any Musk story, there’s always something more going on in the background. Just hours after his “Kekius Maximus” name change, a more serious—and bizarre—incident occurred: One of Musk’s Tesla-manufactured Cybertrucks exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Authorities are investigating the explosion, which is suspected to have been caused by a bomb or fireworks. It’s unclear if the explosion is tied to any kind of terror-related activity, but it’s safe to say that Musk had a lot more to focus on than memecoin shenanigans just hours into the new year.
The Power of Memecoins—and Musk’s Influence
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from this insane 18-day journey, it’s that the power of memecoins is not to be underestimated. In a market fueled by meme culture, social media influence, and pure chaos, anything can happen—and it’s usually the most unexpected players who strike it big.
While the price of KEKIUS has cooled off for now, it’s a testament to the strange, unpredictable world of memecoins, and to the fact that sometimes, a tweet—or in this case, a name change—can be worth millions.
So, whether you’re a memecoin skeptic or a die-hard enthusiast, one thing’s for sure: when Elon Musk gets involved, the market always delivers a wild ride.
