Solana Meme Coin Ponke Drops First-Ever Plush Toy—Kicking Off a Collector’s Frenzy
Move over, Beanie Babies—crypto's latest hype cycle just got cuddly.
Solana-based meme coin Ponke—a token that began as an internet joke—just unveiled its first physical collectible: a limited-edition plush toy. The move signals an aggressive pivot toward monetizing its cult following beyond speculative trading.
Why it matters
Memecoins are no longer content with pumping and dumping. Projects now demand real-world utility—or at least merch to fuel FOMO. Ponke’s plushie gambit mirrors crypto’s broader scramble for legitimacy (and revenue streams that don’t rely solely on degens chasing the next 100x).
The cynical take
Nothing says 'sound investment' like a stuffed animal tied to an asset whose value fluctuates with Elon Musk’s tweet frequency. But hey—at least it’s softer than watching your portfolio nosedive.
What’s next
Rumors suggest an entire Ponke collectibles line is inbound. NFTs? Trading cards? Toilet paper? In crypto, even absurdity has a roadmap.
Ponke and his "combat cone" blunt. Image: Ponke.
Following an online sale, the project will be gearing up for distribution in a retail store later this year.
Ponke is the 69th largest meme coin by market capitalization, per CoinGecko. The project produces regular original content that has gone viral on Instagram and TikTok, which its team claims has amassed more than 2 billion views across platforms.
The plush toy is “so fun to engage with and so funny because of the interactive elements; because of the removable helmet, removable blunt, magnetic hands and feet,” a Ponke representative told Decrypt. “You can do all kinds of things with the character, with that magnetic connectivity. You can connect Ponke to your fridge, you can connect him to your car. You can create unique poses or hang them from a bag like a Labubu.”
It will also feature an NFC chip, which can be scanned by a mobile phone to claim an NFT that proves ownership of the collectible. Each plush will also come with a raffle ticket on Looty.fi, a crypto loot box site that is partnered with Ponke. Purchasers will also be granted early access to future Ponke collectible sales.
Ponke and “digitally-native meme IPs”
Shortly after partnering with 223, Ponke attended the Las Vegas Licensing Expo alongside other JCorp global IPs. A Ponke representative told Decrypt that the monkey mascot was a hit among those in attendance, claiming “future partnerships” were secured during the event.
“We see Ponke as part of a new generation of digitally-native meme IPs primed to leap from online culture into physical retail,” said Cole Gurman, president of 223, said in a release. “The strength of Ponke’s community, brand identity, memes, and cultural energy make it an ideal candidate for breakout success, and this drop is just the beginning.”
The monkey mascot's next product is likely to be a blind box collectible in partnership with an irreverent streetwear brand, aiming to hit the market in the coming months. A cannabis product partnership is also in the works, and very close to coming to fruition.
It’s worth noting that Ponke’s collectibles business will not be feeding its profits back into the meme coin, as the representative told Decrypt it is currently reinvesting revenue straight back into the merchandising venture in an attempt to grow the brand.
That said, a Ponke representative did confirm that the project is currently exploring “ways to provide rewards and benefits” to stakers at its Solana validator and plush holders.
