News 3 min read

Batya Meme Coin: Is The New Token Just A Scam?

On 28 October, a new meme coin labeled ‘Batya’ suddenly became the most traded token on The Open Network (TON). According to data from DEX Scanner, Batya was launched only a day before, on 27 October, and gained more than 100% in a matter of hours. 

Its market cap soared to nearly $500,000 at one point before liquidation, bringing it down to around $116,000 at the time of writing. So, what is the mysterious Batya meme coin? Is it a scam or another pump-and-dump token? Let’s discuss.

What is the Batya token? 

According to its X (formerly Twitter) account, Batya was created as a joke, but it’s now being marketed as the ‘people’s token’. The lack of posts or engagement in the account suggests that the creators behind the token didn’t anticipate such a significant surge.

The token also doesn’t have a website or any details about its potential concept. The majority of users engagement in its Telegram channel is in Russian, which suggests that the token is being pumped by Russian meme coin enthusiasts.

BATYA token price movement
BATYA token price movement. Source: DEX Scanner

Batya’s trading pattern also resembles a potential pump and dump. Despite the rapid surge in the initial hours, the token’s sell volume has significantly increased. DEX Scanner shows that the meme coin is being bought and sold by less than two thousand traders. This trend potentially suggests that only a handful of users are artificially inflating the token’s value to cash in on profits.

All of these indicators strongly suggest that Batya is another pump-and-dump meme coin, and users should be highly cautious.

Pump-and-dump tokens often increase when Bitcoin becomes bullish

Pump-and-dump tokens often rise with Bitcoin price due to the surge in market sentiment and investor behavior. When Bitcoin experiences price growth, it generally triggers a wave of optimism across the crypto ecosystem. 

Many investors, especially retail traders, perceive Bitcoin’s rise as a sign of a broad crypto market rally, leading them to invest in lower-cap tokens, hoping for similar returns. This behavior opens the door for opportunistic actors behind pump-and-dump schemes to exploit the influx of inexperienced investors.

These actors time their schemes to align with Bitcoin’s upward trends, using coordinated buying and aggressive marketing to inflate token prices artificially. Once prices hit a peak, they sell off, leaving others to bear the losses. This cycle is particularly common in low-liquidity, low-utility tokens, where price manipulation is easier due to lower trading volumes and fewer checks against such practices.

Ultimately, the psychological correlation between Bitcoin’s price movements and the rest of the market gives pump-and-dump schemes fertile ground during bullish phases.

How do you identify pump-and-dump tokens? 

  • Low market cap and liquidity: Pump-and-dump schemes often target tokens with low market caps and thin liquidity. These tokens are easier to manipulate, as lower trading volumes allow large holders to influence price movements quickly, just like with Batya. Checking the token’s market cap, 24-hour trading volume, and liquidity on trusted exchanges can signal vulnerability.
  • Abnormal price and volume spikes: Tokens engaged in pump-and-dump schemes often show sudden, steep price increases accompanied by spikes in trading volume without substantial news or project updates. For example, Batya surged by over 100% in just hours of launch and then quickly declined as users liquidated. Real projects tend to grow more gradually with clear indicators, while manipulated tokens display sharp, short-lived price peaks.
  • Aggressive marketing and hype: Unverified tokens may see a flood of online promotion, often through social media channels, influencer endorsements, and messaging groups. These tokens are hyped with exaggerated promises but lack transparent development or verifiable achievements. Be wary of tokens that rely heavily on paid promotion and influencers without technical or fundamental backing.
  • Anonymous or unverified team: Legitimate projects are usually transparent about their development team, partnerships, and roadmap. Pump-and-dump schemes often hide behind anonymity or fake profiles. Conduct due diligence by checking for team LinkedIn profiles, GitHub repositories, and any genuine track record in the industry.
  • Lack of utility or real-world application: Pump-and-dump tokens rarely offer any real-world use case, technological innovation, or utility. If the token’s purpose seems vague or its documentation lacks specific technical information, it’s likely to be speculative at best and a red flag for manipulation. For example, with Batya, there is no website or any explanation of the project’s plan.
  • Frequent exchange listings with no major partnerships: Tokens involved in pump-and-dump schemes may rapidly appear on low-tier exchanges, aiming to create visibility. However, they often lack partnerships with established companies or recognized crypto organizations. This points to a lack of credibility and long-term viability.

Should you buy Batya? 

All the current indicators suggest that Batya is a pump-and-dump meme coin, and speculative trading is inflating its price.  The token has a very low market cap, which suggests that the founders might not be able to sustain its growth. Its high volatility can lead to significant losses, so users should exercise extreme caution before investing in this meme coin. 

Mohammad Shahid @ CryptoManiaks
Mohammad Shahid

Mohammad is an experienced crypto writer with a specialisation in cybersecurity. He covers a wide variety of topics spanning everything from blockchain and Web3 to the retail crypto space. He has also worked for several start-ups and ICOs, gaining insight into the mindset and motivation of the founders behind the projects.