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Buttcoin: Can a 2013 meme really be the next Bitcoin?

Buttcoin: Can a 2013 meme really be the next Bitcoin?
Illustration: Andrés Tapia; Source: Shutterstock

From Dogecoin to Bonk, memecoins have carved out their own niche in the crypto world. What started as mere jokes have turned into thriving communities, with some tokens reaching billion-dollar valuations.

And now, an unexpected favorite is making a comeback—Buttcoin, a memecoin with roots all the way back to 2013.

But is this latest revival just another short-lived pump, or could Buttcoin truly become the “next Bitcoin” its team and supporters claim?

Buttcoin origins

The Buttcoin concept was born in 2013 when YouTuber James D. McMurry uploaded a satirical video titled "The Next Bitcoin?" The video poked fun at Bitcoin’s complexity, claiming that anyone could “mine” Buttcoin—right before punctuating the joke with a fart. While the video never reached mainstream popularity, the meme persisted within internet culture.

Fast forward to 2025, and an anonymous developer has revived the idea, launching Buttcoin as an SPL token on the Solana blockchain. The token’s initial market cap skyrocketed to nearly $59 million within hours, only to crash below $500,000 days later.

Despite this, a committed community has kept the project alive, believing that Buttcoin can be more than just a passing joke. Unlike other tokens that focus on investment potential or technical specs, Buttcoin fully embraces humor. It takes a hilarious jab at Bitcoin’s complexity, positioning itself as the “next Bitcoin”—but without all the confusing tech talk. It sets itself apart from other memecoins by rejecting speculation-driven hype and instead focusing purely on fun and community engagement.

Ironically, Buttcoin was born at the same time as Dogecoin, with both concepts emerging just days apart in December 2013. Dogecoin would eventually go on to become a staple of the memecoin market.

The Buttcoin community has finally tracked down McMurry, the creator of the original concept, to share the news that his joke has officially become a memecoin. With his reappearance, the community has started calling him ‘Buttoshi,’ drawing a direct parallel to Bitcoin’s elusive Satoshi Nakamoto, who vanished without a trace. However, McMurry has chosen to forfeit any potential token allocation and remain like Satoshi—completely out of the spotlight.

What’s behind Buttcoin?

The original Buttcoin concept was created purely for fun—a spirit that carries over to the SPL-based memecoin of the same name. However, that doesn’t mean its technical foundations should be ignored.

Unlike Dogecoin, which operates on its own blockchain, Buttcoin is an SPL token on Solana. This provides advantages such as lower fees and faster transactions compared to Ethereum-based meme tokens like Shiba Inu, potentially making it more appealing for users who frequently transfer small amounts.

As of February 12, 2025, Buttcoin has a market capitalization of nearly $4 million—far from its all-time high of $59 million but significantly above its $500,000 low. Over the past 24 hours, trading volume has exceeded $3.6 million, indicating considerable market activity.

In terms of price action, the memecoin has demonstrated extreme volatility since its launch on January 30. Shortly after its token generation event (TGE), Buttcoin surged from an initial price of $0.000160 to a peak of $0.036099, delivering an astonishing 22,500% return to early investors in less than 24 hours.

However, the price soon underwent a sharp correction, leading to a significant decline. Despite this, Buttcoin still maintains a year-to-date (YTD) return on investment (ROI) of 2,360%, outpacing major memecoins like DOGE, SHIB, and newer entrants such as TRUMP and PENGU.

The token has a total supply of nearly 1 billion coins, which is also its circulating supply. While there is no maximum supply cap, no additional tokens have been minted beyond the original issuance.

Currently, Buttcoin has over 12,000 holders and approximately 4,000 members across social platforms, including X, Telegram.

Can Buttcoin actually become the next Bitcoin?

The idea that Buttcoin could rival Bitcoin is certainly intriguing—yet there are factors that work in its favor. Memecoins have been experiencing a surge in popularity in recent months, particularly on the Solana network, where they now have a combined market cap of nearly $11 billion. Tokens like TRUMP, WIF, and BONK have recently gained traction among crypto investors, further fueling the memecoin trend.

Despite its humorous origins, Buttcoin has persisted for over a decade, giving it a unique place in internet culture. The Buttcoin community on Reddit now boasts 194,000 members, a massive increase from just 303 users in December 2013. Built around the simple premise of being “the next Bitcoin, but without the complicated explanations,” Buttcoin now allows users to financially engage with the joke itself.

However, Buttcoin faces significant challenges. Its price is largely driven by hype and speculation, making it highly volatile. Unlike Dogecoin, which has gained some degree of mainstream adoption, Buttcoin lacks real-world utility beyond its comedic appeal. As a result, its long-term success depends heavily on maintaining community enthusiasm and remaining relevant within the broader crypto ecosystem.

Ultimately, Buttcoin exemplifies the unpredictable nature of the memecoin market—where virality, community engagement, and humor often outweigh traditional investment fundamentals. While its deep-rooted internet culture appeal and active trading volume suggest it could remain relevant in the short term, its long-term viability is far from certain. Without a clear use case beyond its satirical premise, Buttcoin’s future hinges on sustained community interest and broader market sentiment. However, the Buttcoin team, staying true to its slogan “Buttcoin is the next Bitcoin,” appears to be highly committed to its growth and mainstream popularity, which continues to attract memecoin enthusiasts and speculative investors alike.

Whether it evolves into a major player in the memecoin space or fades into obscurity, Buttcoin serves as yet another example of how crypto continues to blur the line between financial innovation and internet culture.