Shortly after former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested based on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant, crypto enthusiasts swiftly launched Duterte-themed memecoins on the Solana-based Pump.fun platform.
Despite the high-profile news, however, these memecoins have failed to attract significant investor attention or trading activity.
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Key Detail:
- These tokens appeared following Duterte’s arrest at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport and subsequent extradition to The Hague, related to alleged human rights violations during his controversial war on drugs.
- Three Duterte-themed memecoins launched shortly after his arrest, but investor interest remains low.
Duterte Memecoins: Little Action, Big Concentration?
Each of the three memecoins is largely held by a single holder.
First Memecoin:
- Launched on March 11, 2025 at 5:00 pm
- Market Cap: $4,990
- Bonding Curve Progress: 100%
- Holder Concentration: Top wallet (JBeKm1) holds 66.71%
Second Memecoin:
- Launched on March 11, 2025 at 5:00 pm
- Market Cap: $4,794
- Bonding Curve Progress: 20%
- Holder Concentration: Issuer’s bonding curve wallet (2Y1PEu) retains 84.45%
Third Memecoin:
- Launched on March 12, 2025 at 1:00 am
- Market Cap: $4,002
- Bonding Curve Progress: Only 9%
- Holder Concentration: Issuer controls 93.23% via bonding curve wallet (9akEMP)
Minimal trading and overwhelming token concentration among issuers indicate investor skepticism toward these particular memes. (Read more: How to Spot Crypto Scams Using the Blockchain)
Political Memecoins on the Rise
Duterte isn’t the first political figure to get a memecoin treatment. Donald Trump and Joe Biden have inspired multiple memecoins, particularly on Solana and Ethereum, with some briefly seeing high trading volumes. Trump-themed tokens surged after his 2024 election win, while Biden-related coins saw mixed reactions.
Despite these occasional pumps, most political memecoins tend to fade quickly, driven by speculation rather than long-term interest. The Duterte-themed tokens appear to be following the same trend—a quick launch, early concentration, and little lasting impact.
This article is published on BitPinas: Duterte’s Arrest Gets Memecoin Treatment on Solana, But Almost Nobody’s Buying
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