Elon Musk’s Epstein Remark Sends Memecoin PNUT Skyrocketing

Musk’s Comments Ignite 120% Volume Surge in PNUT Meme Coin

PNUT, a meme token on the Solana blockchain, saw its trading volume explode after Elon Musk referenced the coin’s namesake squirrel while criticizing U.S. authorities and mentioning Jeffrey Epstein. Despite having no official ties to Musk or the late viral squirrel, PNUT became the latest meme coin to ride a wave of sudden hype.

Over the past 24 hours, PNUT’s trading volume surged more than 120%, jumping from $65 million to $214 million, according to CoinGecko data.

Peanut the Squirrel and Musk’s Viral Post

Although “Peanut,” the social media-famous squirrel, has passed away, the coin inspired by its name remains very much alive in crypto markets.

Late at night, Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter), slamming the U.S. government for euthanizing Peanut while failing to prosecute individuals allegedly linked to Jeffrey Epstein’s network.

“Government is deeply broken,” Musk wrote. “They arrested (and killed) Peanut, but have not even tried to file charges against anyone on the Epstein client list.”

The so-called “Epstein list” refers to rumored prominent figures connected to Epstein’s crimes, though no official or verified list has been released publicly.

Memecoins and the Power of Hype

Musk’s single post ignited a swift reaction in the market. Within minutes, PNUT’s price shot up over 10% as traders raced to profit from the buzz. The token briefly peaked at around 23 cents before pulling back slightly.

PNUT has no underlying protocol, utility, or development roadmap. Its value is purely driven by cultural moments and speculative trading. For now, as long as social media conversations and celebrity posts fuel rapid interest, meme tokens like PNUT will continue capturing the crypto spotlight—especially on platforms like Musk’s X.