Trader Ubah $285 into $627,000 in a Day: The Phenomenon of Memecoin with Manipulative Practices

A spectacular event occurred in the memecoin market when a trader managed to convert an initial investment of only $285 into an astonishing profit of $627,000 within 24 hours. However, behind this incredible success, there are strong suspicions of market manipulation and insider trading practices that undermine retail investors’ trust.

Blockchain Analysis Reveals Suspicious Transaction Patterns

The blockchain analytics platform Lookonchain tracked the wallet’s activity and found very interesting patterns. The initial trader purchased approximately 66.3 million ZREAL tokens, then exited by selling 10 million tokens worth $210,000, while holding the remaining 56.3 million tokens with an unrealized estimated profit of $417,000.

Onchain data shows even more suspicious activity. The same wallet executed hundreds of market sell orders over a span of about 10 hours on Monday. This highly aggressive trading pattern is characteristic of “snipers”—industry term for traders who get information before the public has access to tokens.

Who Are Snipers in the Memecoin World?

Snipers in the memecoin ecosystem are players who always know in advance about new project launches. They typically enter through automated bots before the general public has a chance to buy, then quickly sell on the market when prices start to surge. This strategy allows them to profit within hours or even minutes.

The sniper phenomenon gained international attention in early 2025 when Hayden Davis openly revealed this practice in a podcast with influencer Coffezilla. Davis admitted his involvement in launching several prestigious memecoins including MELANIA and LIBRA, while revealing that the real strategy was to drain liquidity from retail investors unaware of the manipulation taking place.

Pump.fun and Mini Fever Memecoin: Explosive but Risky Markets

Trading of ZREAL occurred amid a new wave of mini fever memecoin activity. The popular memecoin launch platform Pump.fun recently hit a record high with a daily trading volume reaching $1.2 billion. The ZREAL token itself managed to gather a community of over 7,000 members on platform X since its launch on Sunday, with a 24-hour volume exceeding $18 million.

This explosive growth indicates that market appetite for memecoins has not completely disappeared despite a slowdown last year. The combination of easy access, high profit potential, and asymmetric information creates a perfect environment for snipers to operate.

Strong Warning: Most Tokens Are Scams

A report from Solidus Labs in May 2025 made a shocking statement that 98% of all tokens issued on Pump.fun are scam schemes. This claim was firmly denied by Pump.fun through its spokesperson, who stated that Solidus Labs’ analysts do not fully understand the fundamentals of memecoins.

However, the lingering question remains: is it a lack of understanding or a lack of transparency within the memecoin ecosystem itself?

Market Reflection: Between Innovation and Manipulation

The ZREAL case is a perfect reflection of the dilemma faced by modern memecoins. On one side, blockchain technology and smart contracts enable anyone to launch tokens at minimal cost. On the other side, the lack of regulation and asymmetric information create a perfect playground for market manipulation and insider trading that harms retail investors.

The trader who turned $285 into $627,000 may just be one of thousands of snipers operating in this ecosystem, while millions of retail investors lose their investments without ever knowing what really happens behind the scenes.