USDRonaldinho’s STAR10 Memecoin Sparks Hype, Controversy, and Insider Allegations
A Legendary Footballer’s Crypto Bet Faces Immediate Scrutiny
Brazilian football icon Ronaldinho Gaúcho launched his memecoin STAR10 on March 3, 2025, exclusively on the BNB Chain, promoting it as a celebration of “greatness and passion.”
The token promised unique fan engagement opportunities, including exclusive rewards, challenges, AI-powered interactions, and signed memorabilia. Ronaldinho actively hyped the launch on X, calling it his “one and only official token,” fueling significant anticipation. The project rolled out with a total supply of one billion tokens, aiming to merge cryptocurrency with football fandom.
Excitement quickly turned to concern as blockchain security firms GoPlus Security and SlowMist flagged STAR10’s smart contract for serious vulnerabilities. Analysts discovered that the token’s developer retained control over an essential function—allowing them to burn any holder’s tokens at will, raising immediate fears of potential fund seizures.
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) issued a warning, advising traders to be cautious and clarifying that STAR10 was only legitimate on the BNB Chain, as counterfeit versions emerged on other networks. Under mounting pressure, Ronaldinho’s team renounced ownership of the smart contract to reassure investors. He responded on social media, confirming that ownership had been permanently relinquished, preventing any future unauthorized token burns. GoPlus Security then confirmed this claim.
Despite the security scare, STAR10’s market performance saw an initial surge, jumping 36% and topping the DEXSCREENER charts. However, momentum was short-lived, with the price tumbling 63% from its debut peak, settling at $0.143.
Further controversy erupted when blockchain analytics firm Lookonchain uncovered suspicious trading patterns linked to insider activity. A wallet associated with the STAR10 team acquired 122.45 million tokens—12.24% of the total supply—before the public launch for 80 BNB (around $50,000). Shortly after, the same wallet offloaded one million tokens for 433 BNB ($270,000) while retaining a massive stash now valued at $33.5 million.
Additional analysis connected this wallet to Allbridge, suggesting an orchestrated accumulation strategy that enabled early participants to manipulate price action. Another analytics firm, Onchainlens, reported a separate wallet turning a $29,247 investment into nearly $5 million in profits, reinforcing suspicions of pre-launch advantages.
The token’s allocation structure also raised eyebrows. Ronaldinho himself received 20% of the total supply—far exceeding the standard 5-10% founder allocation in most crypto projects. The token’s market capitalization briefly peaked at $32.86 million before declining amid controversy.
In an attempt to demonstrate a long-term commitment to the project, Ronaldinho’s team extended the lock-up period for the token from an initial 30 days to an improbable 255 years, emphasizing that security was their “priority.”
Ronaldinho’s involvement in crypto has been far from smooth. His previous ventures include the ill-fated RON token on P00LS in 2022, which failed to gain traction, and the World Cup Inu token, a FIFA World Cup-themed memecoin that initially soared before crashing.
His most notorious crypto scandal came in 2023 when he was embroiled in the “18kRonaldinho” Ponzi scheme, a fraudulent investment platform promising 2% daily returns. The scheme collapsed, leading to a $61 million lawsuit, with Ronaldinho denying any personal involvement and claiming his image was misused without consent.
The launch of STAR10 was intended to be a fresh start, merging crypto with his legacy in football. Instead, the project has already become another chapter in the athlete’s checkered history with digital assets, facing security concerns, insider trading allegations, and skepticism over its long-term viability.
This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.
