PUNCH, a Solana-based meme coin, has surged greater than 80,000% since its launch earlier this month, capturing merchants’ consideration throughout the ecosystem.
As its market cap expands and accumulation intensifies, issues are additionally mounting. Amid the token’s explosive rally, analysts are highlighting crimson flags surrounding this new market entrant.
What Is PUNCH Token?
PUNCH is a token impressed by the story of a child Japanese macaque named Punch and his inseparable plush companion. The token positions itself as a community-driven cryptocurrency constructed round emotion, consolation, and companionship.
A younger, deserted monkey named Punch went viral this month after he was filmed clinging to the stuffed toy that he had been given as a “surrogate mother.”
Now, Punch is steadily increase his social expertise. He is been noticed climbing on one other monkey’s again, and in accordance… pic.twitter.com/2X7cb1QWMy
— The Washington Submit (@washingtonpost) February 18, 2026
In line with particulars supplied on the web site, the token has a set whole provide of 1 billion. The challenge states that its liquidity has been locked and burned.
It additionally claims that possession has been renounced. As well as, the token operates with a 0% tax.
“PUNCH is gearing up to be the MOODENG of 2026,” an analyst wrote.
Solana Meme Coin PUNCH Skyrockets to $30 Million Market Cap
Information from GeckoTerminal confirmed that the token started buying and selling earlier this month. Momentum accelerated because the story of the infant macaque gained traction throughout media shops and social platforms. Over the previous week alone, the meme coin has surged 22,290.8%.
PUNCH Token Worth Efficiency. Supply: GeckoTerminal
Throughout early Asian buying and selling hours in the present day, PUNCH hit an all-time excessive, with its market cap climbing above $30 million. On CoinGecko, the token emerged as the highest day by day gainer, posting a 260% improve. It additionally ranks third among the many platform’s high trending cryptocurrencies.
The rally has attracted substantial investor curiosity. Blockchain tracker Stalkchain highlighted one pockets that amassed roughly $226,000 value of PUNCH.
Information from Nansen additionally revealed that over the previous seven days, public determine holdings in PUNCH surged 89.69%. Nonetheless, good cash and whale holdings have declined.
Crypto Watchers Elevate Crimson Flags Over PUNCH
A number of market watchers have raised issues in regards to the token. Crypto analyst StarPlatinum has alleged that the token reveals “multiple signs of coordinated insider control.”
In a put up on X, the analyst claimed that the creator pockets, recognized as A8Z1ejQGk45EJibBPJviWnM3UvwKSuYun53nSCkWKM52, distributed roughly 100 billion PUNCH tokens, equal to 10% of the entire provide, quickly after the token went reside.
In line with the evaluation, the pockets (A8Z1e) despatched 48.2 billion tokens immediately to a different pockets, CgR8tggfcM8Re5agDY5fsT4pKmqQTzF8vQ7jQknM6iBj. This entity allegedly acted as an middleman between the creator and a number of other massive holders.
Blockchain traces shared within the thread counsel a movement sample from the creator pockets to the middleman deal with, then to massive wallets. Among the many high linked holders recognized:
- Pockets Hbx5PturLVp9F7YYG18jZZSWFTNp9TTSXEJepq6pvSi3 reportedly holds 35 billion PUNCH, or 3.5% of the entire provide, and was funded from the middleman pockets.
- Pockets H8GLvJ89DwoeBTY3YhepLTf3VmKR44qVnskNdEZHQVDPK holds 25.1 billion tokens, representing 2.5% of provide, and was allegedly funded by the most important holder.
- Pockets DXU65912VjiPUhKR37TLiHCrbp4uNHVNNZiBdLv1uAx1 controls 17.5 billion tokens, or 1.75% of provide, and is claimed to be related throughout the identical funding cluster.
Mixed, these three wallets account for roughly 7.75% of the entire provide, with all allocations allegedly traceable again to the preliminary creator distribution, in keeping with the claims.
“This is how controlled memecoins are structured. Stay careful,” StarPlatinum wrote.
Right here, it’s value noting that the web site specifies that PUNCH’s whole provide stands at 1 billion. In the meantime, the White Whale additionally recognized two “red flags” associated to the PUNCH token.
“1. Bubble maps is too perfect. Too clean. Real life is messy. 2. Liquidity does NOT look like this. In fact it simply cannot look like this due to how distribution takes place on the idiotic constant product pools,” he famous. “Almost 6x “support” in equal distance beneath than resistance above? It’s faux, guys. No coin will get that a lot assist organically with liquidity simply sitting round on the books in case of a dip. It’s all finished by way of Meteora.”
Nonetheless, the White Whale clarified that he’s circuitously accusing the challenge group or builders of orchestrating the exercise. He said that the challenge itself “may or may not be good.”
“I didn’t warn people when I saw the warning signs on Penguin because I didn’t want to be accused of having a conflict of interest. Those same warning signs are now presenting themselves on Punch. Trade carefully. We never know when the cabal is going to pull the rug,” he wrote in one other put up.
Thus, whereas PUNCH’s rally has attracted important curiosity, analysts’ issues elevate questions in regards to the sustainability of its momentum. As with many sharply appreciating meme cash, heightened volatility and structural dangers stay key elements for merchants to watch.
