Kanye West’s YZY Launch May Have Enabled Coordinated Snipers to Extract Millions, Data Suggests

  • Top 13 wallets profited $24.5M

  • YZY spiked ~1,400% to $3 then fell 74% within 24 hours (Nansen, Dune Analytics)

  • Over 56,000 wallets interacted; ~27,000 still hold >$1 (Dune Analytics, Nansen)

YZY memecoin: Data-driven report on the Solana launch, top-wallet extractions, and protective steps for traders — read now.




YZY memecoin on Solana surged and crashed in a coordinated pump-and-dump, with a small group of sniper wallets extracting millions while many retail investors suffered large losses.

What happened during the YZY memecoin launch?

The YZY memecoin launched on Solana and spiked roughly 1,400% to a peak near $3 within an hour, then dropped about 74% to $0.77 within 24 hours. On-chain analytics providers Nansen and Dune Analytics show concentrated early sales by a handful of wallets that realized multimillion-dollar gains.

How many wallets profited and how widespread was participation?

According to Nansen, 13 wallets made over $1 million each, collectively realizing about $24.5 million in profits. A Dune Analytics query shows more than 56,000 wallets interacted with the token, while Nansen reported roughly 27,000 wallets still holding balances above $1 at the time of reporting.

Why do analysts call this a sniper-led extraction?

Data and blockchain sleuthing point to coordinated sniping: the first buyer matches a known sniper active in prior celebrity memecoin launches, per Bubblemaps and on-chain investigators. Analysts flagged rapid sell pressure from early buyers and recurring wallet clusters as evidence of coordinated extraction rather than organic retail trading.

What losses did retail holders suffer?

Nansen data identified the largest realized loss at about $1.8 million, another at $1.2 million, and several wallets with unrealized losses exceeding $800,000. Of the first 99 buyers, only nine retained tokens at snapshot, indicating early concentration of inventory and aggressive dumping.

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Top 10 YZY traders extracted more than $18 million. Source: Nansen

How are chain-analytics tools (like Bubblemaps and Nansen) characterizing the event?

Bubblemaps called the event “worse than we thought,” linking the first buyer to a previously profitable sniper. Nansen’s trading and profit-loss metrics reveal early concentrated profits. Dune Analytics supply and interaction counts confirm high retail participation but shallow long-term holding among early buyers.

Are celebrity memecoin pump-and-dumps common?

Celebrity-linked memecoins have produced multiple pump-and-dump controversies. Examples tracked by on-chain analysts include HAWK, LIBRA, and other celebrity tokens where early insiders or coordinated snipers realized outsized gains while retail holders saw rapid drawdowns.

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YZY pumps and dumps as snipers make off with millions. Source: Nansen

How can traders reduce risk from memecoin launches?

Protective measures include waiting for sustained on-chain liquidity, using time-weighted entry instead of full allocation at launch, checking token source contracts for transfer restrictions, and monitoring early buyer wallet histories on-chain. Treat celebrity launches as high-risk, speculative events.



Frequently Asked Questions

Did insiders benefit from the YZY launch?

On-chain patterns and wallet histories indicate insiders or coordinated snipers realized disproportionate gains. Bubblemaps and on-chain investigators highlighted repeat wallet clusters tied to prior memecoin extractions.

How widespread was retail participation in YZY?

More than 56,000 wallets interacted with the token, but only about 27,000 held above $1 at reporting time, suggesting many small retail interactions and limited long-term holding among early buyers.

Key Takeaways

  • Concentrated profit extraction: A small group of wallets captured most gains, per Nansen.
  • High retail exposure: Tens of thousands of wallets interacted; many sustained losses.
  • Risk mitigation: Verify contracts, inspect early buyers, stagger entries, and set exit rules before trading.

Conclusion

This analysis shows the YZY memecoin launch behaved like a classic sniper-led pump-and-dump: rapid price spikes, concentrated early selling, and large retail losses. COINOTAG recommends on-chain due diligence and risk controls for participants in celebrity token launches to reduce the chance of similar outcomes.

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