Introduction
A self-deprecating social media post from U.S. Vice President JD Vance sent the Solana-based meme coin PWEASE on a wild ride, sparking a 65% price surge within just one hour. The token, which plays off Vance’s earlier political comments about Ukraine, saw its value spike and then retreat, demonstrating the potent and unpredictable influence of political figures on cryptocurrency markets. This incident underscores how humor, politics, and digital assets are becoming increasingly intertwined, creating volatile opportunities and risks for investors.
Key Points
- PWEASE price surged 65% in one hour following JD Vance's viral meme post, then fell 24% from that peak
- The coin has a circulating supply of 999.92 million tokens with a maximum cap of 1 billion
- PWEASE's volatility contrasts with President Trump's official meme coin which remained flat during the same period
The Viral Spark That Lit the Fuse
The catalyst for PWEASE’s dramatic price movement was a meme posted by Vice President JD Vance on September 24, 2025. The image, which featured an edited picture of Vance as a child, humorously referenced his February suggestion that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should thank America for its support against Russia. The caption, ‘You have to say pwease and tank you, Mistow Zensky,’ quickly went viral, creating an immediate and direct link between the political figure and the similarly named cryptocurrency. This digital nod ignited a buying frenzy, propelling the token’s price upward by 65% in a single hour.
This event highlights a growing trend where offhand comments or social media activity from high-profile individuals can trigger significant market movements, particularly within the niche of meme coins. The PWEASE coin, which first appeared in February 2025 around the time of Vance’s original comments, was perfectly positioned to capitalize on this moment. The surge, however, was short-lived. After the initial hour-long spike, the token’s value corrected, dipping 24% from its peak, a pattern typical of momentum-driven assets that lack fundamental underpinnings.
A Rollercoaster Market Profile
PWEASE’s history is a textbook example of extreme crypto volatility. According to data from CoinCodex, the coin reached its all-time high of $0.0532 on March 15, 2025, coinciding with a market capitalization of approximately $54 million. Since that peak, the token has experienced a devastating crash, plummeting 92% to its current market cap of around $4.78 million. At press time, PWEASE was trading at about $0.00478, representing a 14.8% increase over the previous 24 hours but still down a staggering 91% from its March high.
The token’s supply metrics show a circulating supply of 999.92 million PWEASE tokens, with a hard cap set at 1 billion. The recent activity driven by Vance’s meme resulted in fluctuating 24-hour trading volumes, indicating heightened but inconsistent investor interest. This volatility stands in stark contrast to the relative stability of more established cryptocurrencies and underscores the high-risk nature of investments tied primarily to internet culture and celebrity influence rather than technological utility or financial metrics.
Contrasting Fortunes in the Political Meme Coin Arena
The impact of Vance’s post becomes even more pronounced when compared to the performance of other politically-themed digital assets. While PWEASE experienced a dramatic, albeit temporary, surge, President Donald Trump’s official meme coin showed no price movement during the same period. This contrast is revealing; Trump’s coin is down 9% over the past week and has fallen close to 90% since its launch in January, yet it did not react to the viral political moment.
This discrepancy illustrates that not all political connections are equal in the crypto market. The effect appears to be highly specific, requiring a direct and humorous link between the individual’s actions and the coin’s identity. Vance’s self-referential and self-deprecating meme created a unique narrative that resonated with traders, whereas broader political associations were insufficient to move the market for Trump’s coin. This selectivity highlights the nuanced and often irrational drivers of value within the meme coin ecosystem.
The Bigger Picture: Sentiment Over Substance
The rise and fall of PWEASE following Vance’s meme is a microcosm of a larger shift in certain segments of the cryptocurrency market. Increasingly, value is being driven by community sentiment, viral moments, and cultural relevance rather than traditional financial analysis or technological promises. This incident powerfully demonstrates how a single post from a public figure can inject millions of dollars of market value into a digital asset almost instantaneously.
For investors, this environment demands extreme caution. The potential for rapid gains is matched by the risk of equally rapid losses, as evidenced by PWEASE’s 24% retracement after its initial spike. The mantra of ‘Do Your Own Research’ (DYOR) has never been more critical. While the intersection of politics, humor, and crypto creates captivating stories and trading opportunities, it also underscores a market that operates on emotion and narrative, where fundamentals can be secondary. As the Solana network continues to be a hub for such activity, investors must navigate this landscape with a clear understanding of the risks involved.
📎 Related coverage from: tronweekly.com
