Punch, the little abandoned monkey, turned viral sensation, has slipped into the crypto world | Source: CCN
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Key Takeaways
Justin Sun and HTX announced a $100,000 donation to Ichikawa City Zoo for viral abandoned monkey Punch.
Punch captured hearts worldwide, even receiving buy offers from the Tate brothers.
A Punch-themed memecoin jumped 194% in 24 hours.
Tron founder Justin Sun has pledged $100,000 to support a baby Japanese macaque that captured viral attention after videos showed him clinging to an orangutan stuffed toy following his abandonment at birth.
The donation comes as a memecoin inspired by the famous monkey has soared to a $27 million market capitalization, with signs it will grow even further.
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On Friday, Sun wrote on X that he and crypto exchange HTX were “deeply moved” by the monkey’s story and would be donating towards its welfare.
“Punch, the bravest little macaque, has captured the world’s heart,” Sun said.
Punch, the bravest little macaque, has captured the world’s heart. 🐒💔https://t.co/y7nJ0Tgrcj are deeply moved by his resilience. To ensure he gets the best care at Ichikawa City Zoo, HTX is pledging a $100,000 donation to support his growth and habitat. We are also honored to…
“To ensure he gets the best care at Ichikawa City Zoo, HTX is pledging a $100,000 donation to support his growth and habitat,” he added.
The Tron founder also announced that Punch had been named an “official HTX brand ambassador.”
From Abandonment to Global Symbol
Punch, a young Japanese macaque born in July at Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba Prefecture, was rejected by his biological mother shortly after birth.
Shortly after abandonment, Zookeepers provided him with a plush orangutan toy, nicknamed “Ora-mama,” to offer comfort.
Footage of Punch dragging the toy around his enclosure and clutching it while alone quickly spread online, and has blown into one of this year’s most viral figures.
Zoo caretaker Kosuke Shikano previously described the toy as a “surrogate mother.”
WATCH – Heart wrenching scene: Little Punch was bullied again by a bigger monkey, who dragged her harshly across the ground. She cried and ran back to clutch her adoptive mother doll for comfort pic.twitter.com/ZWI56eCgnk
“He’s getting groomed, playfully poking at others, getting scolded, and having all sorts of experiences every day, steadily learning how to live as a monkey within the troop,” a translated X post from the zoo read.
The viral monkey has also extended its reach beyond animal lovers.
Influencer Tristan Tate posted on X offering $250,000 to buy the monkey, writing:
“Which Zoo owns this monkey. @Cobratate and I will buy it. 250,000 dollars. I am NOT joking.”
Memecoin Frenzy
As Punch’s story spread, the crypto industry reacted stereotypically fast and launched a memecoin themed around the macaque.
According to data from CoinGecko on Friday, the token – branded “Punch” – climbed as much as 194% over 24 hours.
The memecoin has exploded | Source: CoinGecko
At the time of reporting, the coin was trading at $0.0278 and had a market capitalization of roughly $27.6 million.
Trading volume over the same period exceeded $43 million.
It’s important to note that memecoins often experience sharp price swings driven by social media attention, holding no real underlying utility.
Kurt Robson is a London-based reporter at CCN, specialising in the fast-moving worlds of crypto and emerging technology. He began his career covering local news in Cornwall after graduating from Falmouth University with First Class Honours in Journalism. There, he cut his teeth on everything from council meetings to missing swans.
He quickly rose through the ranks to become a frontline journalist at several of the UK’s leading national newspapers. Over the years, he has interviewed musicians and celebrities, reported from courtrooms and crime scenes, and secured multiple front-page exclusives.
Following the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kurt shifted his focus to technology journalism—just ahead of the AI boom. With a natural curiosity and a trained eye for emerging trends, he has found a new rhythm in reporting on innovation.
At CCN, Kurt's work focuses on the cutting edge of crypto, blockchain, AI, and the evolving digital world. Drawing on his background in people-first reporting and his deep interest in disruptive tech, Kurt delivers stories that are insightful, entertaining, and human-centric.
