 "Elon Musk becomes ‘Kekius Maximus’ on X: What’s the story behind the name?")
Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and owner of X (formerly Twitter), known for his unpredictable antics and online presence, has caused a stir yet again by changing his display name on X to “Kekius Maximus.”
This move is accompanied by a profile picture of the famous internet meme character Pepe the Frog. Known for his unpredictable online persona, Musk’s latest stunt has left his followers and the crypto community buzzing.
The new profile picture showcases Pepe the Frog clad in golden armour, gripping a video game controller, a playful nod to gaming culture and internet memes.
While Musk’s intent remains cryptic, his penchant for stirring conversations through memes and trends continues to keep the online world intrigued.
What is Kekius Maximus?
The term “Kekius Maximus” is more than just a quirky moniker. It also refers to a meme-inspired cryptocurrency token (KEKIUS), which has recently gained significant traction in the crypto market.
According to CoinGecko, the token experienced an astonishing surge of over 500 per cent in value within hours of Musk’s name change, trading at approximately $0.005667 as of December 27, 2024.
The memecoin’s popularity stems from its fusion of internet culture and decentralised finance (DeFi), combining the iconic Pepe the Frog meme with a nod to the Gladiator movie character Maximus Decimus Meridius.
Musk’s previous influence on cryptocurrencies like Dogecoin has prompted speculation that his name change might be a subtle endorsement. However, the billionaire has not explicitly confirmed any association with KEKIUS, leaving fans and investors to piece together the connection.
Doesn’t Musk have a history of name changes?
This is not the first time Musk has altered his X display name. In January 2023, he temporarily changed his name to “Mr. Tweet,” amusingly noting, “Changed my name to Mr. Tweet, now Twitter won’t let me change it back.”
Changed my name to Mr. Tweet, now Twitter won’t let me change it back 🤣
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 25, 2023
He had also used the name “Naughtius Maximus” for a short time.
Adding to the buzz, Musk shared another post which hinted at a connection between the name and gaming, stating, “Kekius Maximus will soon reach level 80 in hardcore PoE,” accompanied by an AI-generated image of the character.
Kekius Maximus will soon reach level 80 in hardcore PoE pic.twitter.com/Cg5ttuqjvX
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 31, 2024
Musk’s past influence on the crypto market — most notably with Dogecoin — has demonstrated how his actions can spark investor interest and market movement. However, Musk has neither confirmed nor denied any direct involvement with KEKIUS, leaving fans and analysts guessing whether this is an endorsement or just another playful stunt.
The sudden rise of Kekius Maximus highlights the unpredictable nature of memecoins and their potential to drive market trends.
This surge also points to the influence of internet culture on financial markets, where a simple name change by a high-profile individual can trigger a wave of interest and investment.
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