LUCE, the Solana-based memecoin that was named after the vatican mascot, has experienced a new resurgence after the recent death of Pope Francis.
Following his death, there also has been many new memecoins that popped up on the market, all paying tribute to the the Pope.
According to GMGN.Ai, LUCE surged as high as 134% in the wake of Pope Francis’ passing, reaching a daily peak of $0.02517 before settling around $0.015 at press time.
The token, launched in late October 2024 after the Vatican unveiled its anime-style mascot “Luce” (meaning “light” in Italian), is not officially affiliated with the Catholic Church or the Pope.
Despite this, LUCE quickly achieved a market cap of over $80 million just days after launch and now boasts roughly 44,750 holders, $15 million in market cap, and $1.8 million in liquidity, with daily trading volumes exceeding $40 million.
The news of Pope Francis’ death has triggered a surge in Solana-based meme coins themed around the Pope. Within hours, new tokens like “Francis,” “POPE,” “RIP POPE,” and “RIP”—often featuring images of the late pontiff—began appearing, with some spiking more than 115% shortly after launch.
This rapid proliferation highlights the meme coin market’s tendency to capitalize on viral news and pop culture moments.
Despite the hype, LUCE and its copycats come with major red flags. Platform GMGN.Ai has attached a 100% rug pull probability warning to LUCE, signaling extreme risk for investors. The token has already dropped nearly 40% in the past week, underscoring the volatility and speculative nature of these meme-driven assets.
Luce, the Vatican’s official mascot for the 2025 Jubilee, was designed by Simone Legno to engage younger generations and symbolize hope and pilgrimage.
While the mascot has captured the imagination of both Catholics and anime fans, the LUCE meme coin is entirely unofficial and unaffiliated with the Vatican.
The LUCE surge is a textbook example of how meme coins can explode in response to real-world events, but also how quickly fortunes can reverse in the high-risk world of speculative crypto.
As new Pope-themed tokens continue to appear, traders are urged to exercise extreme caution—these coins are driven by hype, not fundamentals, and rug pulls remain a real threat.
In the Roman Catholic tradition, when a Pope dies or resigns, cardinals gather to elect the successor through a secret ballot,known as a papal conclave.
As a result, betting markets have launched around the prospects of papal succession. According to Myriad Markets, punters have voted Italy's Cardinal Pietro Parolin as the most possible candidate to be next in line followed by Philippines' Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, who received the second most votes.
The conclave is set to convene within the next three weeks to elect a new leader for the Catholic Church’s 1.4 billion global followers.
Dive into Binance's 45th Launchpool project, AltLayer (ALT) – a groundbreaking platform revolutionizing cryptocurrency with native and restaked Rollups, and exclusive farming rewards. Be part of the crypto evolution with AltLayer on Binance!
BrianDive into the transformative world of Router Nitro as it launches its mainnet, redefining blockchain interoperability and setting new standards for a connected, innovative future. Explore the features, benefits, and far-reaching impact of Router Nitro on the blockchain ecosystem.
WeiliangDiscover the zkLink Explorer whitelist and join the exclusive community token sale. Seize the opportunity to participate in the sale of 31.25M ZKL tokens, a key milestone in zkLink's ecosystem expansion
MiyukiExplore the groundbreaking merger of Kakao's Klaytn and LINE's Finschia into a unified blockchain powerhouse, setting new standards in tokenomics, ecosystem expansion, and blockchain innovation.
BrianExplore the strategic disposal of GBTC shares by FTX Estate and its market implications in our comprehensive analysis. Uncover insights on the GBTC to ETF transition, legal dynamics, and the significant market reactions shaping the future of cryptocurrency investments.
WeiliangBong, the latest entry from the Bonk family, stealthily emerged on Solana, quickly gaining a strong online presence and real-world engagement. Positioned for growth, Bong's chart and community dynamics draw parallels to crypto success stories, hinting at a promising future.
JoyAs of now, the SFC has not approved any virtual asset spot ETFs, and the industry requires time for preparations.
AlexChina's economic struggles, including yuan depreciation and property market concerns, are raising alarms. The People's Bank of China's measures may inadvertently impact bitcoin, with potential consequences on its price and global exposure to risky assets.
JoyCryptocurrencies like Retik Finance, Shiba Inu, Bonk, and Cardano offer accessible paths to supplement or replace monthly salaries through affordable entry points and staking rewards. While enticing, success requires caution, strategic investment, and recognition of individual project risks in this dynamic yet promising asset class.
JoyPandoshi (PAMBO) secures its position in the cryptocurrency realm with a successful Stage 3 presale sell-out and the launch of its anticipated DeFi Wallet, showcasing its commitment to innovation. Positioned as a practical, user-oriented blockchain solution, Pandoshi emerges as an attractive investment option for those seeking a promising and accessible crypto venture.
Joy