In Brief

• A meme coin creator is attempting to solo-travel all 50 U.S. states in record time.
• He’s livestreaming the journey via the token launchpad Pump.fun.
• The associated 50STATES token has seen a significant drop from its peak price.

The Record Attempt

Leland King Fawcette, known online as the dev of $50STATES, began his solo journey on June 11 from White River Junction, Vermont, aiming to reach Honolulu by June 19 at 7:33 PM EDT. The goal is to break the 1998 record set by Barry Stiefel, completed in eight days and seven hours.

Fawcette is driving a Hyundai Kona, livestreaming his trip with a camera mounted on his vehicle, directly through Pump.fun. The challenge involves covering vast distances, particularly through large Western states where driving can extend for hours without significant stops.

As of recent reports, Fawcette has completed 47 states in just over seven days but faces long stretches of driving, including potential adverse weather conditions, in the remaining time.

The route’s difficulty is acknowledged by the creator, who stated: “These are the big Western states… Having to drive across them is going to be mind-numbing.” Fawcette believes modern navigation and a streamlined route could help him achieve a time significantly better than the existing record.

The Meme Coin Context

Launched on the same day his journey began, the $50STATES token is a Solana-based meme coin. The All Fifty States Club record was originally created in 1998 by Barry Stiefel.

Fawcette’s record attempt, supported by livestreams on Pump.fun, is part of a trend where crypto creators leverage social media for marketing. The token’s market capitalization peaked near $1 million recently but has since fallen to approximately $180,000.

Some community members suspect potential price suppression, although others, like trader Leonardo Sant, express belief in Fawcette breaking the record despite the coin’s performance. Prediction markets like Myriad also lean toward Fawcette’s success, citing potential advantages of modern travel methods.

Fawcette has previously launched other meme coins during similar livestreams, with mixed results. His strategy involves using the stream to build hype, while also addressing market manipulation concerns head-on in past streams.

The Broader Context of Livestreamed Meme Coins

Livestreams as marketing tools for cryptocurrency dates back over a year. Notable examples include creators performing controversial stunts to boost a coin’s value and developers using platforms like Pump.fun to launch tokens.

Pump.fun has become a hub for such events, enabling creators to launch and promote tokens without relying on third-party sites. The viral nature of these streams often drives short-term hype, but many projects see their value collapse.