Selling out after earning only $18, the truth behind the PENGUIN surge that caused traders to miss out on $1.4 million in profits

On-chain trader Cooker.hl’s “missed sell” experience is becoming a microcosm of the recent market. This trader bought 16.5 million PENGUIN tokens at $867 and sold all for a profit of only $18, whereas if he had held, these tokens would now be worth over $1.4 million. This is not only an extreme case of profit disparity but also reflects the current madness of the Meme coin market and the timing dilemmas faced by traders.

Political Narrative Behind PENGUIN’s Surge

Chain reaction triggered by the White House’s official tweet

The surge of PENGUIN is no coincidence. According to the latest news, the White House’s official Twitter posted a photo of Trump holding hands with a penguin, which triggered an extreme market reaction. Subsequently, industry leaders like Solana founder Toly, a16z co-founder, and others engaged, further boosting the narrative value of this Meme coin.

The core narrative of PENGUIN revolves around the story of Trump acquiring Greenland, a political connection that holds strong appeal in today’s crypto market. Binance Alpha launched PENGUIN and memes on January 24, two political-themed Meme coins, pushing this “narrative race” into the public eye.

Data-driven surge magnitude

Against this backdrop of rapid growth, Cooker.hl’s missed opportunity appears especially regrettable. He entered at $867 for 16.5 million PENGUIN, when the token was roughly $0.000052. He quickly sold all at $886, earning only $18 profit.

Why the missed opportunity: timing, psychology, and information asymmetry

Early holders’ dilemma

Cooker.hl’s tragedy lies in the fact that he didn’t enter late but lacked foresight of the narrative explosion. When PENGUIN’s market cap was still around $50 million, no one could be sure it would hit $70 million or higher. Early retail investors faced a classic dilemma:

• Already had a decent profit ($18 seems small but is a 2% return on $867 principal)
• Lacked confidence in further gains
• Feared missing the sell window and incurring losses

This psychology is common in Meme coin trading. In contrast, the trader who invested $54,100 and is now worth $1.1 million might have held longer because he had a deeper understanding of the political narrative’s driving force or simply got luckier.

Reality of information asymmetry

From the timeline, Cooker.hl may have sold before the White House tweet of Trump holding hands with the penguin was posted. This means he missed the key catalyst. In on-chain trading, delays in information dissemination and individual decision windows often determine final gains.

The speculative game under the divide of old and new markets

“See-saw effect” manifestation

According to recent analysis, the current crypto market exhibits a “coexistence of old and new markets”:

• Institutional/Mainstream Market: Bitcoin and Ethereum under pressure due to macro liquidity stress, ETF funds facing outflows
• Meme/Speculative Market: Existing speculative funds have nowhere to go, focusing on single narratives to create localized frenzy

PENGUIN’s rapid rise exemplifies this divergence. When mainstream assets lack fuel, the casino-like market becomes even crazier. This is not a sign of overall market health but a microcosm of extreme gambling by speculative funds within narrow fields.

Fundamental risks of Meme coins

It’s important to note that Meme coin trading is highly volatile, often relying on market sentiment and hype rather than intrinsic value or utility. PENGUIN’s surge was entirely based on political narrative and community enthusiasm. Once the hype fades, the price could quickly fall back. While Cooker.hl took profits, from a risk management perspective, taking profits timely is also reasonable.

Lessons for investors

Not just “missed sell” regret

Cooker.hl’s story reminds us that in Meme coin markets:

• Timing is often more important than choosing the right coin
• Understanding the narrative’s driving force influences holding confidence
• Extreme gains are usually accompanied by extreme risks
• Timely profit-taking and missing out on profits are normal parts of trading

Reflection on the current market situation

Cases like Cooker.hl’s “missed sell” are probably more common than we think. Some make 1800% returns on PENGUIN, while others sell after only 2% gains. This not only reflects individual decision differences but also the speculative ecosystem under liquidity stress.

Summary

Cooker.hl’s missed $1.4 million profit story is fundamentally about timing, cognition, and risk. PENGUIN’s surge is not an isolated event but a result of mainstream market pressure and concentrated speculative battles. For participants, it’s both a profit opportunity and a high-risk warning. Whether holding long-term or taking profits early, decisions should be based on a clear understanding of market conditions, personal risk tolerance, and narrative sustainability. In this era of “coexisting old and new markets,” rationality is more valuable than luck.