Tech

A joke between Elon Musk, McDonald’s has given rise to a new cryptocurrency

The entrepreneur had promised to go eat a McDonald's children's Happy Meal on TV if the fast-food chain accepted Dogecoin

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 28 Jan 2022 12:00PM

A joke between Elon Musk, McDonald’s has given rise to a new cryptocurrency
Elon Musk likely didn't think that his joke with McDonald's over Twitter would lead to new cryptocurrencies. – AFP pic, January 28, 2022

AT a time when financial news outlets can no longer ignore the Bitcoin market, you may have already wondered how these cryptocurrencies are created. Sometimes, they stem from a joke, such as that time Elon Musk dared McDonald's to accept Dogecoin. 

It all started on Twitter. Elon Musk, the high-flying CEO of Tesla Motors, reached out to McDonald's, daring it to accept Dogecoin, the cryptocurrency featuring the head of a shiba inu dog.

The entrepreneur, whose projects can be both visionary and fantastical, promised to go eat a McDonald's children's Happy Meal on TV if the fast-food chain accepted his dare. Elon Musk posted a series of tweets, often humorous, referring to the steep tumble in cryptocurrency markets.

Other Twitter users called on Bitcoin holders to find work at McDonald's to make up for their lost value. 

McDonald's Twitter account was quick to respond, beating Elon Musk at his own game. The chain proposed that Musk's company Tesla accept the "Grimacecoin," a cryptocurrency straight out of the imagination of McDonald's communication team.

Grimace is an imaginary purple character found on the packaging of some McDonald's food in the United States. 

The fast-food brand likely thought it had ended the conversation, but it obviously hadn't taken into account the ingenuity of internet users. A dozen new cryptocurrencies carrying the name "Grimacecoin" were created following McDonald's tweet.

One among them even climbed 285,000% in the space of a few hours. – ETX Daily Up, January 28, 2022

Related News

Malaysia / 1w

Southeast Asia’s booming scam industry eyes Malaysia

Business / 1y

German tech company confident US tariffs will not impact its exports

World / 1y

SpaceX again loses its Starship rocket on test flight

Business / 1y

HP reaffirms commitment to invest in Penang

Malaysia / 2y

Inspector nabbed in connection with RM1.25 million extortion case

Education / 2y

SMK Permatang Pasir to carry national flag to FTC World Championships

Spotlight

Malaysia

Bersatu-PH tie-up a possibility as coalition seeks Malay support, analyst says

By Alfian Z.M. Tahir

Malaysia

Woman molested on her way home from work (video)

Malaysia

Court allows Daim's daughter to permanently keep passport

Malaysia

Santiago pokes holes in data centre hype, asks: Who really benefits?

By Alfian Z.M. Tahir

Malaysia

Jeweller vows to pursue Rosmah until ‘every penny’ is recovered as RM67.5m battle enters enforcement phase

Malaysia

Ambulance carrying two injured men crashes en route to hospital after MPV collision in Besut

Malaysia

Man blames 'lack of love' for sexual assault on teens

Business

BNM's OPR to stay at 2.75 pcent in 2026 amid strong domestic demand - Kenanga IB

Malaysia

Missing jewellery: Rosmah ordered to pay RM67.5 million

You may be interested

People

Malay kampongs in Bangkok: Echoes of southern heritage in Thailand’s capital

Off beat

KLSICCI presidential candidate says it's time to restore glory, empower the future