A heartwarming meme sparked global attention
On the eve of Christmas 2024, Siqi Chen, CEO of a Silicon Valley tech company, posted on social media revealing that his daughter Mira has a rare craniopharyngioma and expressed hope that everyone could assist with funding for research at the University of Colorado's Hankinson Laboratory to combat this brain tumor.
Image source: X Siqi Chen, CEO of a Silicon Valley tech company, posted a call for everyone to assist with funding for research at the University of Colorado's Hankinson Laboratory to combat this brain tumor.
This post rapidly gained traction within just a few hours, with donations pouring in from all sectors, far exceeding Chen's initial target of $100,000, and even receiving support from many influential figures, including X CEO Linda Yaccarino. As of the writing of this article, Chen's GoFundMe has raised over $230,000.
Just when the public thought the fundraising had come to an end, an anonymous crypto user decided to launch a meme coin called '$MIRA' to secure more research resources for the ailing girl. This token, born just minutes ago, saw its market value skyrocket to over $72 million, attracting a flood of benevolent investors and devoted fundraisers, sparking an unexpected charitable whirlwind. (Before the writing, the price of $MIRA had dropped to $0.0193, with a market value of approximately $19.3 million.)
Image source: DEXScreener Meme coin $MIRA price basic information
From joke to real money: How $MIRA went viral
"$MIRA" was originally just a 'joke' meme coin created by netizens to raise funds for Mira, but unexpectedly, just a few minutes after being listed on pump.fun, trading volume skyrocketed. What astonished Siqi Chen even more was that half of the total amount of the coin was transferred to him by the 'initial person of intention,' with the market value at one point estimated to have reached $400,000, and the price continued to climb. Although many were concerned that this might just be another 'bubble' or speculative hype in the crypto world, Chen quickly clarified:
"All proceeds from these coins will be used to support the Hankinson Laboratory's research on rare disease treatments; our family will not keep a single cent!"
As the price of $MIRA surged, the community questioned whether there would be a risk of a 'dump,' but Chen stated that only 10% of the tokens would be sold off for fundraising, while 5% would be reserved for future use, with the promise that the remaining portion would not be significantly sold off without a 24-hour prior announcement. Most netizens expressed support for this, believing that the intention to donate outweighs market fluctuations and hoping that the funds would genuinely be allocated to research expenditures.
Doing charity in the crypto world? The transformation from 'fraud' to 'miracle'
$MIRA's rise to fame highlights the unique advantages of cryptocurrency in charitable fundraising. Traditionally, meme coins have often been seen as synonymous with 'speculation' or 'fraud,' but this event presents another possibility: the community has rapidly accumulated substantial funds for high-risk research industries through the creation, trading, and donation of tokens.
"Who says cryptocurrency has no legitimate use?" Chen believes that anyone who questions the practical value of crypto can use this example to prove its potential in the charitable sector.
At the same time, experts warn that meme coin prices are extremely volatile, often rising quickly only to fall just as fast, necessitating attention to risk management. However, the significant impact of donations, along with Chen's transparent disclosure and careful commitments, has successfully brought new hope to sick children and has prompted a reevaluation of the deep power of cryptocurrency in the realm of public welfare.
Breakthroughs in research: $MIRA creates a new charitable model
The astonishing donations brought about by the surge of $MIRA will ultimately be fully directed to the Hankinson Laboratory for research on the extremely rare craniopharyngioma. Although the malignancy level of this condition is not the highest, its complex location in the brain poses a significant threat to children's healthy growth. Continuous experiments and clinical trials require substantial funding support, and general medical foundations and government subsidies often have limitations.
This time, meme coins have transformed into actual funds under the push of a large community, advancing rare disease research significantly. With many community members calling for more 'decentralized charity' models, this event may well be remembered in crypto history, becoming one of the most representative chapters of 'from meme to charity.' In the future, similar operational models may become more professional and sustainable through mechanisms like smart contracts and DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations). (As of the writing, Chen's external wallet holds a total of $7.79 million worth of cryptocurrency.)
As Chen said: "For those who say crypto is just speculation, this is the best example proving it can also be an innovative force for positive social change."
Image source: Major blockchain explorers Chen's external wallet holds a total of $7.79 million worth of cryptocurrency
'The miracle of meme coin fundraising! $MIRA raises a million dollars for charity; the heartwarming story behind it must be known.' This article was first published in 'Crypto City.'