Coinbase teases a potential PNUT listing through an Apple Pay tutorial

Coinbase has sparked speculation of a potential listing for the viral meme coin Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT) after featuring the token in its 15-second Apple Pay tutorial video. In the video, which showcases how users can use Apple Pay for crypto purchases, PNUT makes a brief yet noticeable appearance. Toward the end of the tutorial, the iPhone screen displays PNUT as a trending token under the spotlight tag, accompanied by a price page showing its upward-trending green chart. This subtle inclusion has led many traders to speculate that a Coinbase listing for PNUT could be on the way.

PNUT is not currently listed on Coinbase, but its unexpected feature in the tutorial has caught the attention of traders on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). Many took this as a sign that the meme coin could soon be available on the exchange. Comments from users like “List coinbase soon. Pnut 30B$ 50B$” and “Big win for $pnut but don’t sleep, 24 hours left in our drop” reflect the excitement surrounding the possibility of a Coinbase listing.

The meme coin has already shown impressive performance in the market. In the past 24 hours, PNUT has gained nearly 12%, and over the past week, it has surged by 11.3%. Most notably, the token has skyrocketed by an astonishing 981.41% in the past month, bringing its market capitalization to $1.2 billion, with a fully diluted valuation matching the same figure.

Interestingly, PNUT’s sibling token, Fred (FRED), named after Fred the raccoon, also caught the eye of some traders in the video. Fred and Peanut were confiscated together by New York authorities in a controversial incident. There is growing speculation that Fred, like PNUT, could eventually be listed on Coinbase as well, with some traders expressing enthusiasm for this possibility.

On December 2, Coinbase announced the launch of its Apple Pay option for fiat-to-crypto purchases through Coinbase Onramp, and the tutorial video was part of this promotional effort. However, the video remains “unlisted” on Coinbase’s official YouTube channel, keeping its visibility limited for now.

The Tragic Origins of PNUT and FRED

Launched in November, PNUT and FRED are both meme coins built on the Solana blockchain, honoring the viral internet animals Peanut the squirrel and Fred the raccoon. The animals gained attention due to their tragic story. Peanut was rescued from a car accident by Mark Longo, who ran an Instagram account documenting the lives of Peanut and Fred. However, their lives took a sad turn when they were confiscated by the New York City Department of Environmental Conservation following anonymous complaints about the animals’ care. Both Peanut and Fred were allegedly euthanized by officials, sparking public outrage, particularly among animal rights activists and figures like Elon Musk, who criticized the incident as government overreach.

In response to the tragedy, the crypto community created the meme coins PNUT and FRED as a tribute to the animals. The tokens have since gained popularity, especially as the internet animals became symbols of the public’s frustration over the situation.

As the hype surrounding these meme coins continues to grow, the possibility of a Coinbase listing for PNUT (and possibly FRED) adds another layer of excitement for traders and fans alike. Whether or not this will become a reality is still uncertain, but the attention generated by the tutorial video has certainly fueled speculation and optimism within the community.