Central African Republic’s National Memecoin Hits $900M Market Cap—But Is It Real?

Key Takeaways

• The Central African Republic’s president announced a national memecoin on Feb. 9.
• Deepfake detection tools flagged the video as suspicious, sparking skepticism.
• The launch comes as Western nations consider adding Bitcoin to their reserves.

At a time when Western governments are debating the creation of national Bitcoin reserves , the Central African Republic (CAR) appears to have taken a different approach—launching a national memecoin.

The announcement , made on Sunday, Feb. 9, through a video posted on X by President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, has sparked immediate skepticism. While some see it as a bold experiment, others question whether the video itself is even real.

CAR: Deepfake or a Digital Experiment?

Almost immediately after the video surfaced, deepfake detection tools flagged it as suspicious.

At least two AI-based verification platforms suggested the announcement may have been manipulated.

Some analysts speculated that while the background appeared AI-generated, the president’s lip movements seemed to sync with the audio.

However, the deepfake allegations were quickly challenged by others who pointed out that automated detection tools are not always reliable.

Similar AI flagging errors have occurred in past interviews with the CAR president, raising doubts about the accuracy of these assessments.

Beyond concerns over video authenticity, some skeptics suggested the president’s X account may have been hacked .

However, this theory also fails to hold up—hacked accounts typically delete fraudulent posts within hours, yet the original announcement remains live.

Bubble Map Data Backs Legitimacy

According to transaction data, the distribution of the CAR token closely mirrors the allocation outlined on its official website, suggesting that the national government was behind its launch.

On-chain records show that the primary wallet, ending in “121ftn,” acquired 79.3% of CAR on Pump.fun before dispersing it across four main addresses:

• Country Development (51MsZ) — 33% 
• Creators Company (5aXLX) — 25% 
• Public Distribution (HAZrZ) — 8.4% 
• Charity (2Dd5L) — 9.8%

Blockchain analysts note that achieving such an exact match in tokenomics on Pump.fun—a public platform where anyone can create tokens, including fraudulent copies—would be highly unlikely unless the issuer was the original source.

CAR token bubblemap. Source: Bubblemap

Given the precise alignment between the token’s distribution and its official breakdown, it’s highly likely that the CAR president was directly involved in launching the asset.

Memecoins Are Now a Political Tool

The 2024-25 memecoin mania has already reshaped the crypto landscape, with tokens emerging from viral moments, internet jokes, and even political figures.

Now, it seems national leaders are leveraging the trend for political and economic messaging.

In the U.S., President Donald Trump made headlines by launching his own memecoin just days before taking office, drawing criticism from lawmakers and regulatory agencies.

Now, Touadéra’s experiment in the CAR has added another layer of intrigue to the phenomenon.

CAR memecoin chart. Source: Dexscreener.

CAR briefly reached a $900 million market cap before losing over 60% of its value. The president framed the launch as an experiment designed to unite the country, promote national development, and elevate the CAR’s global presence in a “unique way.”

While the initiative may have been intended as a lighthearted digital experiment, the financial implications are far from trivial. With government-backed messaging behind the token, thousands may buy into the hype—only to face significant losses when the inevitable market correction hits.