- Days after Changpeng Zhao attempted to distance himself from memecoin speculation, he is now reportedly considering the creation of a memecoin based on his own dog.
- Even before any official announcement, a memecoin called TORO, claiming to be CZ’s dog, had already been created.
Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the former CEO of Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world, has recently sparked discussions around meme coins. This follows his earlier statement that he does not own any meme cryptocurrencies. His remarks come after Binance listed the Test (TST) token, but CZ clarified that he was not involved in the token’s listing process. However, CZ has hinted that things might be changing, as he is now considering allowing the launch of a memecoin based on his own dog.
The idea of CZ’s involvement in a meme coin was first introduced during a conversation with Alistair Milne about Bitcoin’s struggle to maintain a price above $100,000. It was during this chat that BNB holder Vee casually asked, “CZ, do you have a pet dog?” CZ confirmed that he owns a Belgian Malinois, originally from Belgium, a unique choice compared to the usual Shiba Inu breeds associated with meme coins.
This simple question led to an unexpected shift in conversation, with the community members now eager to learn more about CZ’s dog. In response to the growing interest, CZ expressed curiosity about whether sharing his dog’s name and photos would be enough to create an official meme coin. He questioned how the community would identify the authentic token and playfully stated that he would “mull it over” and decide whether to respect his dog’s privacy or share details.
Honest newbie question. How does this work? I share my dog's name and picture, and then people create memcoins? How do you know which one is "official"? or does that even matter?
(I see many people asking for a name and a picture.
) https://t.co/ZcvEhzgwmM
— CZ
BNB (@cz_binance) February 12, 2025
According to data from DexScreener, a memecoin called TORO, which claims to be “CZ’s dog,” has gained attention and is currently ranking 7th on the platform’s trending list. At its peak, TORO saw its market cap soar to $4.8 billion. However, the coin’s market cap has since crashed nearly 100%, dropping to about $178,000.
Could CZ’s Memecoin Rival SHIB & DOGE?
Meme coins have evolved from a niche trend to a cultural phenomenon, often driven by viral events and personalities. A notable example is Dogecoin (DOGE), inspired by the Shiba Inu breed, which gained massive popularity in 2021 due to Elon Musk’s endorsements. His tweets helped DOGE reach an all-time high of $0.7316. However, Musk’s involvement in politics and his ties to Donald Trump have led to a decline in his support for DOGE.
Shiba Inu (SHIB), another dog-themed meme coin, started at a value of $0.000000000056 and surged to $0.00008616 by October 28, 2021, before dropping to $0.00001622. Despite this decrease, SHIB remains a key player in the meme coin market.
High-profile figures like Donald Trump and his wife Melania have also launched their own meme coins, TRUMP and MELANIA, highlighting how meme coins have evolved from internet jokes to significant cultural and financial assets.
The potential for a CZ dog-inspired memecoin to skyrocket in value is not far-fetched. The recent rise in BNB’s price and trading volume suggests that there is strong market sentiment, and a meme coin launch may further increase BNB’s price from its current $706.
