Who is Murad Mahmudov?

Who is Murad Mahmudov?

Murad Mahmudov is a controversial crypto figure who transitioned from Bitcoin maximalism to becoming a top meme coin influencer. Murad was formerly analyst at Goldman Sachs and the CIO of Adaptive Capital, a fund that went bankrupt after taking heavy losses during the BTC crash in March 2020.

Recently, Murad (@MustStopMurad on X) has recaptured the attention of the crypto zeitgeist by championing the concept of a "meme coin supercycle," identifying Cult meme coins with loyal, fervent communities and speculative potential. 

He frequently publishes tier lists, outlining his favourite tokens, typically based on their memetic value within the community and wallet distribution.

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Murad’s Crypto Wallets

Murad Mahmudov’s crypto wallets, holding over $26 million in meme coins, were revealed by on-chain investigator ZachXBT. The analysis connected 11 wallets on Ethereum and Solana to Murad, showing a link through shared funding sources tied to the STFX team address. 

One wallet purchased 7.5 million MINI just an hour before Murad publicly recommended the coin in July 2024, underscoring the potential conflict between his wallet activity and meme coin calls.

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Murad’s Meme Criteria

Murad Mahmudov, speaking at the Token2049 conference in Singapore, outlined his focused approach to identifying promising meme and culture coins. He shared a set of key criteria that guide his investment strategy, emphasizing community strength and long-term resilience.

His criteria include:

• Mid-cap preference: Focuses on coins with market caps between $5 million and $200 million.
• MarketCap-to-Holders:  Uses this metric to estimate how much market cap each new holder adds, interpreting it as an indicator of "Emotional Resonation per Holder."
• Blockchain selection: He prefers blockchains with the most liquidity like Ethereum and  Solana, avoiding chains like Base, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Ton, and Sui.
• Project age: Only considers tokens with at least six months of history.
• Survival through downturns: Seeks coins that have weathered two significant drops of around 70%.
• Strict exclusions: Avoids new, celebrity-backed, political, or overhyped animal meme coins.

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Murad’s Current Meme Coin Holdings

Murad Mahmudov’s largest current position is SPX6900 (SPX), having turned a $387,000 investment into $23.6 million in just four months. He also holds over $1 million in other meme coins like  APU and MINI, which align with his belief in the upcoming meme coin supercycle.

Mahmudov’s portfolio spans across Ethereum and Solana, and his curated lists include MOG, POPCAT, and GIGA, all of which he views as having strong cult-like followings.

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Bottom Line

Murad Mahmudov’s shift from Bitcoin maximalism to meme coin influencer reflects his deep understanding of crypto market cycles and the important of memetics. 

However, his rise has also sparked debate, particularly after revelations of his large holdings in meme coins like SPX, raising questions about his sincerity and potential conflicts of interest. 

While his focus on mid-cap, community-driven tokens has been profitable, it underscores the speculative nature of meme coins, where cult-like followings can fuel sharp but volatile price swings.