Tech billionaire Elon Musk, known for his unpredictable online antics, adopted the username “Kekius Maximus” on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, triggering a wave of speculation and market activity among his 210 million followers.
Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and a close advisor to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, also updated his profile picture to depict “Pepe the Frog,” a cartoon character donning Roman attire and holding a video game controller. While Musk offered no explanation for the change, it ignited curiosity across social media and the cryptocurrency world.
The new moniker appears to combine elements of the Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius from the 2000 film Gladiator and “kek,” an internet slang term used as a variation of “LOL.” “Kek” is also associated with alt-right and troll culture, while Pepe the Frog, originally a benign comic character, gained notoriety during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign when it was adopted as a symbol by some alt-right groups.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has labeled Pepe the Frog a hate symbol but acknowledges that most uses remain non-bigoted.
Musk’s username change had immediate effects in the cryptocurrency market. A memecoin named “Kekius Maximus” surged by over 1,600% in value by Tuesday evening, according to data from CoinGecko. The memecoin, inspired by internet memes, was trading at less than $0.20 per coin by 10:00 PM GMT.
Speculation abounded as to Musk’s intentions. Was the move a playful nod to internet culture, a hidden message, or a deliberate attempt to influence cryptocurrency markets? Musk has previously sent crypto prices soaring or plunging with his social media posts, but it remains unclear if he has any direct connection to the Kekius Maximus memecoin.
The billionaire hinted at the name change earlier with a cryptic post on X: “Kekius Maximus will soon reach level 80 in hardcore PoE,” referencing the popular video game Path of Exile 2, which Musk has praised as a “hall-of-famer.”
Musk’s online activities have frequently drawn criticism, particularly for amplifying misinformation. Since acquiring X for $44 billion in 2022, his account has become an increasingly influential—and controversial—platform.
Adding another layer to the intrigue, Musk has been tapped by the Trump administration to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a nod to the meme-based cryptocurrency Dogecoin, which Musk has promoted in the past.
As the speculation continues, Musk’s latest move underscores his ability to stir global conversations—and markets—with just a few clicks.
