Solana-Based PUNCH Climbs 300% as Andrew Tate Connection Circulates

A Solana-based memecoin called PUNCH recorded a sharp price surge of over 300% in the early morning hours of February 20, UTC+1. CoinGecko data shows the token reached a new all-time high of $0.038 within 24 hours amid heightened online attention.

The rally appeared to be driven by viral discussions linking the token to influencer Andrew Tate. The surge also coincided with a widely shared animal rescue story that gained traction across social media.

From Viral Rescue Story to Crypto Market Attention

PUNCH lives on the Solana network and draws its theme from a real baby monkey named Punch that recently went viral online. The emotional clip showed the young monkey clinging to a stuffed toy after rejection from other primates.

The video spread rapidly across social platforms as viewers reacted to the animal seeking comfort from the toy like a surrogate mother. Many users expressed sympathy, while others began creating memes and fundraising suggestions tied to the story.

Momentum intensified on February 19, 2026, as the story reached a wider audience. News outlet The Insider Paper reported comments from Tristan Tate about buying the monkey for $250,000, which further amplified attention. Andrew Tate replied publicly by asking for bank details, which fueled further discussion on X.

The exchange quickly attracted thousands of reactions on X and pushed the story far beyond animal welfare circles. Attention soon shifted from the monkey itself to the Solana token sharing the same name.

Market Hype and Manipulation Concerns

Market activity around PUNCH spiked soon after, with on-chain trackers showing a rapid expansion in volume and valuation. Some commentators framed the move as a direct response to the Tate-related headlines rather than as a change in the project itself.

At the same time, analysts raised concerns about potential market manipulation. On-chain analyst WhiteWhaleLabs flagged suspicious activity tied to a specific wallet. The analyst described repeated market buys followed by narrow liquidity placement on Orca, allegedly limiting upward movement.

WhiteWhaleLabs stated that such behavior undermines fair markets, regardless of intent, and urged the wallet operator to remove the artificial pressure. The warning added a cautionary tone amid enthusiasm for the token.

The Tate brothers have previously been linked to several volatile memecoin episodes on Solana. Their indirect association with PUNCH now adds another example of how viral narratives can rapidly reshape crypto market behavior.

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