The cryptocurrency market witnessed an extraordinary event as a token formerly known as PASTERNAK transformed into LaunchCoin and achieved a staggering 200-fold increase within a single day. This dramatic resurgence represents more than just price action—it signals a fundamental shift in platform philosophy from celebrity-driven influence to trust-based utility.
The Meteoric Rise and Initial Collapse
The story begins with Ben Pasternak, a 25-year-old Australian entrepreneur, who introduced the Clout platform in early 2025. His vision centered on converting social media influence into tradable digital assets. When a social media account reached certain follower thresholds, the system would automatically generate token contracts, effectively quantifying influence as transactional assets.
On January 24, 2025, $PASTERNAK became the first token launched on Clout, rapidly reaching an $80 million market capitalization within just five hours. The initial success was largely fueled by influential investors and Solana community members, including AllianceDAO's Imran Khan, whose involvement created significant market excitement.
The Downward Spiral
The euphoria was short-lived. Beyond $PASTERNAK, community participants quickly realized that earning potential on the platform was extremely limited. Most celebrity tokens launched on Clout were essentially abandoned by their creators. The situation worsened when the mobile application's frontend experienced critical failures, preventing token distributions and leaving internal market participants unable to trade or receive their tokens.
After recording $250 million in trading volume within 24 hours, $PASTERNAK's price began declining on the second day. Within a week, its market value plummeted to just 1/30th of its peak, eventually bottoming at approximately $180,000 by March. The market had written off the project, assuming it would follow the familiar pattern of failed SocialFi platforms.
The Believe Transformation: From Influence to Trust
On April 28, 2025, Clout announced a fundamental rebranding, changing its name to Believe and signaling a complete philosophical shift. The platform moved from being "the Nasdaq for celebrity social networking" driven by traffic economics to "Silicon Valley's technology independent investment" platform focused on value investing.
The official account deleted all previous tweets, symbolizing a fresh start. The very next day, $PASTERNAK was renamed $LAUNCHCOIN, aligning with Believe's new launchpad identity and confirming community speculation that it would become the official platform token.
The Validation That Changed Everything
The transformation gained crucial validation when Nikita Bier, former product growth lead and consultant for Solana, xAI, and Coinbase, publicly praised Believe as a "killer viral app" while sharing compelling data to support his claim. As a successful entrepreneur who had previously sold multiple products to major social technology companies like Meta and Discord, Bier's endorsement carried significant weight.
This endorsement triggered a remarkable recovery: the token's market capitalization surged from $1 million to $22 million within 24 hours. The renewed interest continued to build throughout May 2025 as several entrepreneurs introduced products like $GOON, $BUDDY, and $NOODLE to the market, further driving valuation increases. At the time of writing, the token's market capitalization has exceeded $260 million, completing an impressive comeback story.
Community Response and Trading Strategies
The dramatic price movements generated mixed reactions within the crypto community. James, a prominent on-chain player, recently shared his experience of losing $340,000 during LaunchCoin's earlier volatility. His story represents many participants who were "hurt" during the Clout era and consequently missed the recent surge due to lingering distrust.
A Case Study in Strategic Trading
Among these stories emerges a fascinating case of strategic patience. The trader known as "DNF" (or "Car Head" in community circles) demonstrated exceptional trading philosophy during LaunchCoin's downturn.
When LaunchCoin's market capitalization dropped 70% from its peak to $25 million, DNF invested $20,000 in what appeared to be a "bottom buy." When the price continued falling to a $280,000 market cap, she invested another $3,500—a 90% drop from her previous position, representing just 17.5% of her initial entry point.
Her strategy involved taking partial profits at 50%, 400%, and 800% increases, gradually reducing her position cost basis. After waiting patiently for two months through the platform's transformation, her remaining 13% position generated approximately $1.3 million in profits. This approach demonstrates crucial trading principles: judging holding targets, knowing when to hold long-term, and understanding when to buy at perceived bottoms.
The Bigger Picture: From Clout to Believe
LaunchCoin's journey from obscurity to 200X growth represents more than just another meme coin story. It illustrates the transition occurring throughout cryptocurrency markets—from attention-based economies to trust-based ecosystems.
The platform's philosophical shift from "clout" to "believe" reflects Ben Pasternak's evolution in understanding monetary fundamentals after initial failures. More importantly, it signals a broader market maturation where sustainable value is increasingly prioritized over fleeting influence.
Our market doesn't lack influence; it lacks trust. The Believe transformation represents an important step toward addressing this fundamental need. For those interested in tracking such market transformations in real-time, you can explore more strategies for identifying similar opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the main reason behind LaunchCoin's dramatic price increase?
The primary driver was the platform's fundamental rebranding from Clout to Believe, shifting from influence-based tokens to trust-based utility tokens. This transformation, combined with endorsements from respected industry figures, renewed market confidence and triggered substantial buying activity.
How does Believe differ from the original Clout platform?
Believe represents a complete philosophical shift from Clout's focus on celebrity influence and social metrics. The new platform emphasizes technology investments and value-based projects rather than social media metrics, creating a more sustainable ecosystem for token launches and investments.
What lessons can traders learn from LaunchCoin's volatility?
The key lessons include the importance of risk management, strategic entry points, and patience during market downturns. The DNF case study particularly demonstrates how scaling into positions during price declines and taking partial profits during recoveries can generate significant returns despite extreme volatility.
Is LaunchCoin a good investment after its 200X increase?
Like any cryptocurrency investment, LaunchCoin carries significant risk, especially after such substantial price appreciation. Investors should conduct thorough research, understand the platform's new direction, and assess whether the current valuation aligns with Believe's long-term prospects before making investment decisions.
How does Believe plan to maintain its current momentum?
While specific plans haven't been fully detailed, the platform appears focused on attracting serious technology projects rather than celebrity tokens. This quality-over-quantity approach, combined with strategic partnerships and continued platform development, suggests a more sustainable growth trajectory than its previous iteration.
What risks should potential investors consider?
Key risks include the token's extreme volatility, the relatively new nature of the Believe platform, competition from established launchpads, and general cryptocurrency market conditions. Additionally, the token's history of dramatic price swings requires careful risk management strategies for any investment position. For those monitoring such developments, you can view real-time tools to stay informed about market movements.