Football Legend Enters the Crypto Market with Binance Smart Chain Token
Brasilia – Brazilian football icon Ronaldinho Gaúcho has launched a new cryptocurrency token called STAR10, built on the Binance Smart Chain. The initiative, aimed at engaging his global fan base, offers holders exclusive perks, such as signed memorabilia and access to an AI-powered assistant.
STAR10’s Market Performance
Following its debut, STAR10 saw an immediate surge in value, climbing over 20% and reaching a peak of $0.2492 before stabilizing at $0.23, a 13% increase from its launch price. With a circulating supply exceeding 82 million tokens, STAR10’s market capitalization quickly approached $20 million, while its fully diluted valuation stood at $241 million. Trading activity was also significant, with over $26 million in volume reported by CoinGecko.
A Controversial Return to Cryptocurrency
Ronaldinho’s involvement in the crypto space has not been without controversy. While he hinted at a return to digital assets in June 2024, blockchain investigator ZachXBT reminded the public of his past associations with questionable crypto projects. These include World Cup Inu, Atari Chain, Lord Society NFT, and meme coins such as WATER and Baby Doge, the latter also promoted by Lionel Messi.
One of the most notorious incidents linked to Ronaldinho was the 18kRonaldinho project—a cryptocurrency initiative that turned out to be a $61 million pyramid scheme promising 2% daily returns to investors. The former football star later distanced himself from the project, claiming his name and image were used without consent.
Security Concerns and Insider Activity
The launch of STAR10 coincided with a broader surge in memecoins, whose total market capitalization jumped from $20 billion in January 2024 to over $120 billion by December. Analysts attributed this 500% rise to social media hype, celebrity endorsements, and aggressive marketing strategies.
However, concerns about STAR10’s security emerged quickly. Web3 security firm GoPlus Security initially flagged a critical issue, revealing that the contract allowed its creator to burn any holder’s tokens at will, a feature that could have been exploited to destroy investor assets. Blockchain security firm SlowMist later clarified that the contract’s ownership had been renounced, eliminating this particular risk.
Meanwhile, blockchain analytics firms Onchain Lens and Lookonchain identified suspicious insider activity. One investor, reportedly linked to Ronaldinho, acquired 20.79 million STAR10 tokens for 48 BNB (around $29,247) and made nearly $5 million in profits. Another wallet bought 122.45 million tokens (12.24% of the total supply) for just 80 BNB ($50,000), raising concerns about potential market manipulation.
Ronaldinho’s Legacy in Football
Before venturing into cryptocurrency, Ronaldinho was one of the most celebrated footballers of his generation. Known for his extraordinary dribbling skills, creativity, and flair, he won the FIFA World Player of the Year award twice (2004, 2005) and played a key role in Brazil’s 2002 World Cup victory.
At the club level, he made his mark with Barcelona (2003-2008), where he won two La Liga titles and the 2005-06 UEFA Champions League, cementing his status as one of the best players in the club’s history. Ronaldinho also played for Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Flamengo, and Atlético Mineiro, winning domestic and international titles before retiring in 2018.
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