Who is creating these ugly Memes?
Original Article Title: The ugly memes driving crypto sales
Original Article Author: Adam Alexsic, Financial Times
Translation: Peggy, BlockBeats
Editor's Note: When AI, algorithmic recommendation, and crypto speculation are combined, internet memes are systematically "manufactured" to harvest attention and money.
This article starts with a series of viral offensive content on social platforms, revealing how these seemingly absurd trends serve the dissemination logic of crypto scams. It reminds us that when popularity is no longer organically generated but designed to profit, the internet is becoming more chaotic and dangerous.
Below is the original article:
The author of this article, known online as Etymology Nerd, is the author of the book "Algospeak: How Social Media is Reshaping Language."
This year, an unsettling and disturbing new aspect has emerged on Instagram Reels: offensive memes are being systematically created to promote cryptocurrency scams—and almost no one is seriously trying to remove them.
Since January this year, a group of bizarre, distorted characters has begun to spread on this social platform. This phenomenon's emergence is closely related to the widespread availability of AI tools and the relaxed hate speech regulation on the Meta platform.
These include "George Droyd," a cyborg "reincarnation image" modeled after George Floyd created in April this year to promote a cryptocurrency called $FLOYDAI; and "Kirkinator," born in September shortly after political commentator Charlie Kirk's death, used to hype the $KIRKINATOR token. Additionally, there are a series of recurring "sidekick" images such as "Epstron" and "Diddytron," respectively alluding to Jeffrey Epstein and rapper Sean Combs (aka Diddy).
These accounts exist in the same narrative universe, often gaining traffic by catering to racist and anti-Semitic stereotypes, accumulating millions of views. The short videos frequently feature discriminatory language and repeatedly revolve around the subplot of so-called "racial purification."
The sole purpose of this shocking content is to generate interaction and engagement. The ultimate goal is to direct public attention to so-called "meme coins," a type of cryptocurrency that theoretically rises in value as memes spread. Early meme coins (like $DOGE) mostly leveraged existing internet culture, while derivative images like George Droyd and its counterparts are entirely artificial creations by crypto speculators.
This scheme typically begins with pump.fun, a platform that allows users to easily register and trade digital tokens. Once a developer creates a new token, they share it in a trusted Telegram group or X community, where investors brainstorm ways to artificially boost attention for the related meme, known as "mindshare." They then use AI to generate provocative videos, hoping to make the meme spread virally and attract "normies" — those unfamiliar with meme coin culture but who may be drawn in as retail investors. After the price of the coin rises, the initial core group will choose to "rug pull," selling off their holdings, cashing out, and exiting with profits.
In reality, the actual people buying into these tokens are often only a few thousand. However, because the barrier to creating cryptocurrency and releasing AI-generated content is extremely low, coin creators can easily replay this cycle, profiting by "manufacturing a cultural phenomenon."
Simultaneously, these memes often start to "grow organically." When other creators recognize their viral potential, they imitate and reproduce them for money or online clout. The characters "Kirkinator" and "George Droyd" have been repeatedly used by various internet personalities unrelated to the original token creators.
Yet, with each reiteration, crypto hustlers still benefit. For instance, in October, a tweet about Kirkinator gained 8 million views, causing the $KIRKINATOR coin price to spike fivefold, only to fall back in the following days. For those investors who sold at its peak, the profit was based on millions of X users watching a video — where the content was "George Droyd getting killed by Kirkinator after stealing Epstein files."
Unfortunately, the more sensational the video, the easier it is to spread virally. Violent, offensive imagery can attract more comments and longer watch times, both of which algorithms reward. Coin creators have learned to exploit this mechanism for personal gain. Even Instagram or X users who are unaware of these cryptocurrencies may find themselves repeatedly exposed to this highly disturbing clickbait content.
We are being drawn into a vortex: loosely regulated cryptocurrency sites, easily accessible AI tools, and social platforms that allow the proliferation of offensive memes, all stacked on top of each other.
As a researcher of internet language evolution, I am deeply troubled by this: online trends are being artificially created, with the sole purpose of manipulating us. We can no longer be certain that memes are "naturally occurring" — they may at any time be part of some profit-driven chain.
Even if a meme is not directly created by a crypto hustler, it will almost always be co-opted by them almost immediately. Every new cultural reference is quickly tokenized on pump.fun and artificially pumped up, all to make some people profit from it.
The end result is that we are all becoming more disconnected from reality. More and more memes are invented or amplified, forcing netizens to constantly question what they can really believe; and continued exposure to this toxic discourse environment makes it appear more "acceptable." The only way out is to fight to reclaim the internet and stop those trying to poison it.
You may also like

Don't Just Focus on Trading Volume: A Guide to Understanding the "Fake Real Volume" of Perpetual Contracts

Crypto Price Prediction Today 18 February – XRP, Bitcoin, Ethereum
Key Takeaways XRP’s potential as a replacement for SWIFT is bolstered by regulatory approvals, potentially driving its price…

XRP Price Prediction: XRP is Outpacing Solana and Targeting Binance Coin Next – Should You Invest Now?
Key Takeaways XRP Ledger has moved into the sixth place by tokenized real-world asset value, surpassing Solana and…

New AI Predicts the Price of XRP, Dogecoin, and Solana By 2026
Key Takeaways ChatGPT anticipates significant price increases for XRP, Dogecoin, and Solana by the end of 2026. XRP…

Arthur Hayes Shares Two Scenarios for Bitcoin Price, Calling for a Major Crypto Rally
Key Takeaways Arthur Hayes predicts a significant crypto rally fueled by a $572 billion liquidity injection from the…

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Abu Dhabi Gov Funds Buy $1 Billion in BTC – What Do They Know?
Key Takeaways Abu Dhabi has revealed a $1 billion stake in Bitcoin through major ETF investments, signaling strong…

Bitcoin’s Divergence From Nasdaq Signals Dollar Liquidity Risk, Says Arthur Hayes
Key Takeaways Arthur Hayes highlights a concerning divergence between Bitcoin and the Nasdaq, pointing to a potential dollar…

Lagarde’s Possible Early Exit Could Alter Digital Euro Plans and Stablecoin Oversight
Key Takeaways Christine Lagarde’s potential departure as ECB president may disrupt the digital euro timeline and stablecoin policies.…

HYLQ Strategy Invests in Hyperliquid Quantum Solutions Pioneer qLABS, Acquires 18,333,334 qONE Tokens
Key Takeaways HYLQ Strategy Corp has made a strategic investment in qLABS, purchasing over 18 million qONE tokens…

WLFI Crypto Surges Toward $0.12 as Whale Purchase Precedes Trump-Linked Forum
Key Takeaways Whale accumulation has spurred a rally in WLFI crypto prices, reaching towards $0.12 ahead of a…

Cathie Wood Reverses Path with $6.9 Million Purchase in Coinbase Stock – Is ARK Strategizing a Rebound?
Key Takeaways ARK Invest acquires 41,453 shares of Coinbase, showing renewed interest post recent divestment. This acquisition by…

Crypto Lobby Establishes Working Group to Advocate for Prediction Market Regulatory Clarity
Key Takeaways The Digital Chamber announced the Prediction Markets Working Group to promote federal oversight of prediction markets.…

Peter Thiel Discreetly Withdraws from Ethereum Treasury Venture ETHZilla – A Cautionary Note for the DAT Model?
Key Takeaways Peter Thiel and Founders Fund have completely exited their position in ETHZilla. Thiel’s withdrawal raises questions…

Coin Center Advocates Protecting Crypto Developer Liability
Key Takeaways Coin Center is actively lobbying the U.S. Senate to safeguard crypto developer liability protections. The ongoing…

$150B in US Tax Refunds Could Catalyze Fresh Crypto Inflows, Historical Trends Indicate
Key Takeaways The IRS anticipates distributing approximately $150 billion in tax refunds to U.S. consumers by the end…

Oracle Error Leads DeFi Lender Moonwell to $1.8 Million in Bad Debt
Key Takeaways A critical oracle pricing glitch caused Moonwell to incur nearly $1.8 million in bad debt. The…

Crypto Price Prediction Today 18 February – XRP, Solana, Dogecoin
Key Takeaways XRP targets a $5 move, driven by its role as an alternative to SWIFT for cross-border…

China’s DeepSeek AI Predicts the Price of XRP, PEPE, and Shiba Inu By the End of 2026
Key Takeaways DeepSeek AI suggests significant potential price increases for XRP, PEPE, and Shiba Inu by 2026. XRP…
Don't Just Focus on Trading Volume: A Guide to Understanding the "Fake Real Volume" of Perpetual Contracts
Crypto Price Prediction Today 18 February – XRP, Bitcoin, Ethereum
Key Takeaways XRP’s potential as a replacement for SWIFT is bolstered by regulatory approvals, potentially driving its price…
XRP Price Prediction: XRP is Outpacing Solana and Targeting Binance Coin Next – Should You Invest Now?
Key Takeaways XRP Ledger has moved into the sixth place by tokenized real-world asset value, surpassing Solana and…
New AI Predicts the Price of XRP, Dogecoin, and Solana By 2026
Key Takeaways ChatGPT anticipates significant price increases for XRP, Dogecoin, and Solana by the end of 2026. XRP…
Arthur Hayes Shares Two Scenarios for Bitcoin Price, Calling for a Major Crypto Rally
Key Takeaways Arthur Hayes predicts a significant crypto rally fueled by a $572 billion liquidity injection from the…
Bitcoin Price Prediction: Abu Dhabi Gov Funds Buy $1 Billion in BTC – What Do They Know?
Key Takeaways Abu Dhabi has revealed a $1 billion stake in Bitcoin through major ETF investments, signaling strong…