The McRib, McDonald’s elusive boneless pork sandwich drenched in tangy barbecue sauce, has returned to menus across the United States, reigniting a unique internet phenomenon linking the sandwich to Bitcoin.
The sandwich, a periodic limited-time offering, has developed a cult following over four decades, with fans eagerly tracking its comeback and sharing sightings online.
The chatter gained momentum after McDonald’s Senior Marketing Executive Guillaume Huin confirmed the McRib’s return on 11 November.
“The legendary McRib returns 11/11 at most McDonald’s in the US.”
He added that the sandwich is “our most-mentioned limited-time product online, higher than other evergreen items, particularly on X.”
Huin also commented on the sandwich’s crossover into financial discussions:
“Funnily enough and entirely independent of McDonald’s involvement, the McRib has recently found new meaning on the internet within the trading and crypto community. Some claim Bitcoin and S&P 500 tend to perform well after the McRib makes a comeback — particularly in 2017, 2020, 2021.
Coincidentally, when the McRib returned to stores in December 2024, Bitcoin hit a new all-time high.”
The so-called “McRib effect” has been largely tongue-in-cheek, yet some online data suggests a correlation between the sandwich’s return and crypto rallies.
Researcher McCordic, known as @internbrah on X, noted that when the McRib returned to the U.S. in 2020 and 2023, and in the U.K. in 2024, Bitcoin prices rose by 237%, 71%, and 58%, respectively, in the months following.
However, the pattern has not been consistent.
When the McRib returned in November 2021, Bitcoin fell 74% from its peak in subsequent months.
Despite this, traders continue to joke about being “bullish” on the sandwich, keeping the meme alive.
Not everyone is convinced the sandwich can influence crypto markets.
CNN analyst Valdrin Tahiri warned that Bitcoin could face further short-term losses.
“The Bitcoin price is currently in the C wave of an A–B–C corrective structure that has been developing since August. The RSI and MACD are both below their bullish thresholds, and neither has generated any bullish divergences.”
This suggests that, while the McRib may bring excitement to social media and fast-food fans, Bitcoin’s next move may not mirror the sandwich’s popularity.
First introduced in 1981, the McRib has never been a permanent menu item, creating a sense of scarcity and anticipation around each return.
McDonald’s has periodically “retired” the sandwich, staging mock farewell tours and teasing fans with limited-time runs.
The 2022 release even warned:
“The elusive McRib is finally back… BUT this could be your last chance to get it. Like any true farewell tour, we’re hoping this isn’t a ‘goodbye,’ but a ‘see you later.’”
This year’s comeback once again combines fast-food enthusiasm with financial speculation, demonstrating the unusual ways internet culture connects seemingly unrelated trends.
As of writing, Bitcoin has slightly declined by 0.3% over the past 24 hours, settling its value at $104,664.
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