Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, has made his debut in the cryptocurrency sector by launching a meme coin called Yeezy Money on the Solana blockchain. The announcement was made through social media, where he encouraged millions of his followers to take part in what he described as a blockchain-based new economic model. In a short video, he declared the official release of the Yeezy token, signaling his official entry into the digital asset space.
His project includes a fully functional website that allows users to buy, sell, and transfer the token, which trades under the ticker YZY. The platform promotes the idea of empowering individuals by giving them greater financial control while reducing dependence on centralized institutions. The ecosystem also features Ye Pay, a payments processor designed to lower transaction costs for merchants, and a YZY card, enabling holders to spend the token alongside USDC, a widely used stablecoin.
Rapid Market Surge and Correction
The launch attracted immediate attention, with the token’s market capitalization briefly touching $3 billion within minutes, according to CoinGecko data. The value, however, quickly corrected and stabilized at approximately $1.5 billion, still leaving it as one of the most notable meme coin debuts of the year. Real-time trackers highlighted that the coin reached a peak price of over $3 before settling closer to the $1.15 level against USDC in the hours following its release.
Reports also indicated that 70 percent of the token supply was retained by Yeezy Investments LLC, with 20 percent made publicly available and the remaining 10 percent allocated for liquidity. The structure drew discussions among analysts, who noted that such concentrated ownership could influence future volatility.
Shift From Previous Rejection of Crypto
Ye’s move into digital assets surprised many observers, given that only months earlier he had openly dismissed the idea of launching a coin. He had suggested at the time that he focused on creating tangible products and insisted that celebrity-backed coins often relied on hype at the expense of loyal fans. He also disclosed that he had been offered lucrative deals to endorse crypto ventures but had rejected them, claiming he did not want to exploit his audience.
This turnaround aligned with a broader wave of celebrity and political engagement in crypto. The launch of YZY followed shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump unveiled their own digital tokens. Similar to Ye’s initial skepticism, Trump had also admitted limited knowledge of meme coins despite endorsing their release.
A Growing Ecosystem With Wider Implications
The Yeezy Money initiative extends beyond the creation of a single coin. Ye’s project is being framed as a payments ecosystem where digital currencies, including YZY and USDC, could be used for global transactions. Supporters argued that this model not only builds a community around the token but also explores real-world applications, such as reducing merchant fees and offering new financial tools to users.
Impact on Crypto Landscape
Market analysts suggested that Ye’s involvement could push meme coins further into the mainstream, given his global following and cultural influence. The mixed reception, however, reflected both excitement and skepticism, with some viewing it as a serious financial experiment and others considering it another example of celebrity-driven hype in the digital asset space.
Regardless of the criticisms, the entrance of a high-profile figure into the blockchain sector was seen as further evidence that tokenization and decentralized finance were becoming inseparable from mainstream culture. The rapid rise and correction of YZY highlighted the speculative nature of such ventures, but also underscored the capacity of digital assets to generate immediate impact at scale.