Ron Branstetter, creator of the viral meme coin Unicorn Fart Dust (UFD), announced that his Phantom wallet had been hacked, leading to the loss of $6.6 million worth of UFD tokens, Solana, and other crypto assets.
Branstetter shared the news during an emergency livestream, expressing heartbreak while reassuring the community of his unwavering commitment to the project.
The $6.6 Million Hack
In a January 27 X post, he detailed how he had checked his wallet after noticing community concerns about UFD’s price fluctuations. Upon updating the wallet, he discovered the funds were gone.
“Somebody has drained all 6.6 million of the Unicorn Fart Dust tokens that were in there and the Solana that had been generously donated to us,” Branstetter shared tearfully during the livestream. “I did not sell. I did not make a decision to get out of this. My wallet was hacked.”
The creator also referenced a previous X hack tied to the project, which occurred weeks earlier, but this time, he didn’t know how his tokens were stolen. He added that while he had followed recommended security protocols, he regretted not moving the tokens into cold storage.
At the time of writing, CoinGecko data shows that UFD is trading at $0.139, down 19.1% in the past 72 hours. The token’s market cap stands at approximately $133.2 million.
The Youtuber used the livestream to reassure supporters, “Nothing has changed about Unicorn Fart Dust,” he declared. “Good attracts good, and I still believe in this community.” Reflecting on the project’s six-week journey, he reiterated the relationships and shared experiences that define the coin.
From Satire to Viral Sensation
Ron Branstetter’s journey into crypto began with skepticism. A gold and silver enthusiast who runs the Rons Basement YouTube channel, he coined the term “Unicorn Fart Dust” to mock the intangibility of crypto and fiat currencies. However, his curiosity led him to create UFD using Solana’s Pump.fun launchpad to highlight the craziness of the crypto space.
Introduced to his audience during a December 17, 2024 livestream, UFD initially had a negligible market cap of $7,000. To his surprise, the token’s value skyrocketed within hours, fueled by community enthusiasm and leading to its listing on BYDfi.
In an interview with Decrypt, the creator recounted sharing the news with his wife, Susie. Over the following weeks, UFD’s market cap climbed to $420 million, with his $100 investment turning into a fortune. Despite this, he resisted the urge to sell most of his holdings, feeling a connection to the growing community surrounding the coin.
What started as a joke turned into a close-knit community that embraced UFD’s fun spirit and the motto “Good attracts good.” He explained that this unity was what changed his view of crypto.
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