From Euthanasia to Saving America: The Story of Viral Squirrel Peanut

On November 14 at around 9:00 a.m. (Beijing Time), PNUT (Peanut the Squirrel) spiked briefly above $2.5, hitting $2.4158, setting a new all-time high with a 24-hour increase of 422.3%.

This isn’t the first time PNUT has captured attention with its surge. On November 13, at around 8:00 p.m., PNUT briefly broke through $1.5, reaching $1.515 with a 24-hour gain of 247.41%. Earlier, on November 11, news that Binance would list Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT) drove the token briefly to $0.28, with a 141.15% increase within an hour.

But the story of Peanut goes beyond price swings in the meme coin market. This squirrel is tied to numerous topics, from the U.S. election to figures like Trump, Musk, and even euthanasia. The full story starts before the U.S. election.

Past Life – The Viral Squirrel’s Political Incident During the Election

Peanut’s story began seven years ago when Mark Longo rescued the squirrel after witnessing its mother hit by a car. Concerned for Peanut’s survival in the wild due to its injuries, Longo became Peanut's caretaker and nursed it back to health.

Longo frequently shared Peanut's daily life on Instagram, amassing followers with his content. Beyond social media fame, Longo used Peanut’s name to establish an animal rescue organization, raising funds for animals in need.

On October 30, however, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) took Peanut away after an anonymous tip-off. Longo described the scene to the media: "They treated me like a terrorist. The entire raid felt like a drug bust. My home was torn apart, my wife’s immigration status questioned, and I was even accompanied by police to check behind the bathroom."

Longo’s campaign to "Free Peanut" garnered widespread support. On November 2, news of Peanut’s euthanasia broke, sparking outrage online. Longo called it "a living nightmare" on social media, while supporters condemned the DEC’s heavy-handedness, even comparing it to the "Black Lives Matter" movement with the slogan "Squirrel Lives Matter." The DEC director was mockingly called "Karen" for her harsh stance, while the Democratic administration faced backlash with comments like, "The government has resources to euthanize a squirrel but can’t repair our bridges?"

Elon Musk also joined in Peanut’s tribute, posting several tweets of support.

With the U.S. election in full swing, on November 4, Musk pinned a tweet urging followers to "Vote for PNUT! Vote for freedom." As of now, Peanut’s market cap has reached $53.97 million.

Given that New York’s environmental department is under Democratic control, many criticized the government for overreaching. Trump’s campaign capitalized on the incident:

Trump remarked, "If that squirrel were from Mexico, they’d put it up in a hotel with a shopping voucher." Trump Jr. added, "Peanut’s death should spur real change. Vote out the current administration." At a rally in North Carolina on November 3, Vance said Trump was "outraged" over Peanut’s death, questioning government priorities: "The government lets illegal criminals flood our borders but doesn’t want us to keep pets."

The incident fueled election fervor, with supporters on social media calling to vote Trump to "avenge Peanut."

Present Life – The Wealth-Creating PNUT

The U.S. election may be over, but Peanut’s story lives on. In the crypto world, Peanut has been immortalized as the meme coin PNUT, sparking a meme coin craze.

As noted earlier, PNUT has surged in recent days. According to Coingecko, PNUT peaked around 9:00 a.m. today at $2.27, with a 24-hour trading volume of $5.501 billion.

Launched on the Solana blockchain, PNUT is a meme coin whose backstory has resonated widely online. With Musk and Trump endorsing it, crypto whales quickly saw PNUT’s potential for profit:

On November 5, Lookonchain reported that, over the past three days, one whale spent 13,642 SOL ($2.22 million) on Pnut, FRED, and OPK, though the account now has an unrealized loss of $1.44 million. The same whale invested 7,142 SOL ($1.16 million) for 14.46 million PNUT, now down by $553,400 (-48%).

As of November 6, ai_9684xtpa reported that as PNUT rebounded 127% in 24 hours, the whale’s initial loss of $1.48 million narrowed to $183,000, nearly breaking even.

On November 10, Solscan showed that wallet js5Lja acquired around 28.83 million PNUT (worth over $2.4 million) in six days, becoming the largest holder.

On November 11, Binance, OKX, and other exchanges listed PNUT, propelling meme coin fever with triple-digit daily gains.

Calculating from PNUT’s pre-surge price of $0.128 on November 11 to its high of $2.27 this morning, the token has skyrocketed by 1,673% in just four days.

So, Why Has PNUT Surged Lately?

First, with Trump’s projected victory, the crypto market has surged. The former president’s pro-crypto stance is encouraging investors, while Musk’s upcoming role in the “Government Efficiency Department” aligns with DOGE, the meme coin he’s supported. PNUT’s recent rally also rides this wave.

On November 13, Musk tweeted, "A squirrel and a meme coin saved America!" spiking PNUT’s popularity.

Additionally, PNUT’s rally reflects the overall strength of the meme coin market this cycle, with both Bitcoin and meme coins standing out. According to SoSoValue, the meme sector has gained 11.90% overall. The Trump-themed segment shows notable growth, with a 189.05% rise, and PNUT’s 24-hour gain of 324.49% makes it a star performer with over $6 billion in trading volume.

Meme coins continue to attract new crypto investors. PNUT’s meteoric rise highlights meme coins’ unique appeal—they move away from traditional narratives to embrace community-driven, lighthearted values, embodying the desire for freedom and fun.

Conclusion

From a viral pet squirrel to a political symbol backed by Musk and Trump, and now to a meme coin worth billions, Peanut’s fate has been remarkable since its rescue seven years ago.

Peanut may have been sacrificed amid election fervor, but it awakened a spirit of resistance, a yearning for freedom and unity. Now, PNUT has become a lasting presence in the crypto world, reminding investors of the joy this little creature once brought.