Elon Musk changes X name to 'Harry Bōlz,' briefly triggers Bōlz-themed meme coin frenzy

Key Takeaways

• Elon Musk's username change to 'Harry Bōlz' sparked a rise in meme tokens.
• Edward Coristine's controversial appointment at the US State Department raises national security concerns.

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Elon Musk is now ‘Harry Bōlz’ on X, and meme token creators are cashing in. New Bōlz-themed coins have flooded the market, with prices instantly surging and crashing, according to GeckoTerminal data.

The Tesla CEO re-adopted the persona on Tuesday amid controversy surrounding Edward Coristine, also widely referred to as “Big Balls,” who was recently appointed as a senior adviser at the US State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Technology, in addition to his role at Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The Washington Post reported Monday, ahead of Musk’s X name change, that officials are worried about Coristine’s potential access to sensitive national security data due to his youth, lack of experience, and a past incident where he was reportedly fired for leaking information.

Coristine’s appointments have also been the subject of several other reports. There is concern that he could be compromised by foreign entities or receive unauthorized access to classified material.

The White House defended the appointments, stating that all DOGE staffers are federal employees with appropriate security clearances and operate within federal law.

Musk’s use of the name ‘Harry Bōlz’ is widely seen as a mockery of the media coverage surrounding the incident. The name itself is commonly understood to be slang for ‘hairy balls.’

It’s not the first time Musk has gone by this name. In April 2023, he adopted it for the first time, leading to widespread media coverage in an attempt to debunk its origins.

Musk has a history of changing his X username, often using satire to comment on current events. When he declared himself ‘Kekius Maximus’ late last year, a meme coin with the same name saw its price jump by 1,200% in a single day.

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