Hayden Davis, co-founder of the now-defunct LIBRA project, has been linked to a $12 million profit from the launch of YZY, a memecoin tied to rapper Kanye West (Ye), according to blockchain analytics firm Bubblemaps and multiple crypto media outlets [1]. The token was launched on August 21, 2025, and generated immediate controversy due to its skewed token distribution and rapid early gains [2]. Bubblemaps’ analysis indicates that Davis’s wallets began purchasing YZY just one minute after the official launch, securing a significant portion of the token supply at a fraction of its eventual value [3].
Davis is a well-known figure in the crypto space, having previously been associated with the LIBRA project, which was tied to Argentine President Javier Milei and marred by allegations of mismanagement and fraud in 2023 [4]. In late July 2025, a U.S. court unfroze 57.6 million USDC linked to Davis, which has raised concerns about the potential for recurring misconduct in the crypto market [5]. He has also been connected to other celebrity-backed tokens, including MELANIA and WOLF, both of which have had contentious histories [6].
Bubblemaps’ investigation revealed that Davis’s wallets received substantial inflows from centralized exchanges just one day before the YZY launch. These transfers were linked to over-the-counter deals, shared deposits, and token sales, suggesting prior knowledge of the token’s release [7]. While the firm has not confirmed Davis as an insider, the speed and scale of his YZY purchases point to potential pre-market access, enabling him to capitalize on the token’s volatility [8]. Some members of the crypto community speculate that Davis may have been directly involved in the token’s creation, though Bubblemaps has not verified this [9].
YZY, inspired by Kanye West’s Yeezy brand, quickly gained traction in early August 2025, drawing attention from both retail and institutional investors. However, the coin has faced criticism for its speculative nature and lack of long-term utility [10]. Bubblemaps reported that Davis’s transactions were conducted across multiple blockchain networks, likely to obscure the source of his funds and avoid detection [11]. The pattern of behavior has led some to label Davis as a “rug pull king,” given his repeated involvement in projects that later collapsed or were exposed as fraudulent [12].
The YZY case highlights the broader challenges in the crypto ecosystem, particularly the need for enhanced transparency, wallet tracking, and regulatory oversight. While celebrity-backed tokens like YZY often generate hype, they also expose investors to heightened risks, especially in the absence of clear governance and accountability [13]. The incident underscores the importance of due diligence and risk management in an environment where speculation often outweighs fundamentals.
Sources:
[1] Hayden Davis Earns $12M from Kanye West’s YZY Coin, Coinpaper, https://coinpaper.com/10723/libra-co-founder-hayden-davis-linked-to-12-m-in-kanye-west-s-yzy-token?utm_source=snapi
[2] Hayden Davis Linked to $12 Million Profit from Kanye’s …, CoinCentral, https://coincentral.com/hayden-davis-linked-to-12-million-profit-from-kanyes-yzy-token/
[3] LIBRA Promoter Made $12 Million from Kanye West’s YZY …, Bitget, https://www.bitget.com/news/detail/12560604929972
[4] Hayden Davis, the king of rug pulls, from $LIBRA to $YZY, Decripto.org, https://decripto.org/en/hayden-davis-the-king-of-rug-pulls-from-libra-to-yzy-12-million-earned-in-24-hours-on-kanye-wests-meme-coin/
[5] Hayden Davis Accused in YZY Token Sniping, Blockonomi, https://blockonomi.com/57m-unfrozen-then-12m-gained-hayden-davis-accused-in-yzy-token-sniping/
[7] Bubblemaps: Hayden Davis Netted $12M Sniping Kanye …, Crypto News Australia, https://cryptonews.com.au/news/bubblemaps-hayden-davis-netted-12m-sniping-kanye-wests-yzy-memecoin-130542/
[8] Hayden Davis allegedly sniped Kanye West’s YZY token …, CryptoSlate, https://cryptoslate.com/hayden-davis-allegedly-sniped-kanye-wests-yzy-token-to-make-12-million-in-profits/
[11] Hayden Davis linked to $12M in Kanye West’s YZY Token, CoinMarketCap, https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/68ada08bbdf79f269a041b7c/
[13] Crypto News Today: BTC Crashes as ETH Hits New High, ICOBench.com, https://icobench.com/news/crypto-news-today-bitcoin-whales-dump-2-5b-ethereum-surges-bitcoin-hyper-presale-crosses-12m/
