A day in the crypto market is like a year in the real world, but I really don’t recommend jumping into this suddenly viral "little turtle."

A turtle-themed meme token saw nearly 10,000 trades within 24 hours, and its market cap shot up directly to $13 million. How did this hype happen? It all started when former Trump administration official Pete Hegseth posted a spoof image—turning the children’s cartoon "Franklin" into a war propaganda poster about "armed strikes against drug lords." This immediately triggered an online shouting match between supporters of both US political parties.

My view? This is a carefully designed traffic trap. The tactic isn’t new: pick an IP image that people are already familiar with, bind it to a divisive social topic, instantly create viral spread, and attract a flood of retail investors to be the last ones holding the bag. To put it bluntly, this isn’t an investment opportunity—it’s a battlefield for emotional harvesting.

What impact does this have on the overall market?
These short-term hot trends have little real effect on the broader market, but they act like a magnet, sucking up speculative funds and everyone’s attention, making more people itch to "take a gamble."

How should ordinary investors respond?

**Just watch from the sidelines—don’t jump in as a player:** Remember this rule—what you see trending on social media is often the endgame set up for you by someone else. Big holders have already cashed out with close to 180% profit in just a few days. If you rush in now, know exactly what role you’re playing.

**If you really can’t resist, use your "entertainment budget":** Take an amount you can completely afford to lose—treat it like buying a lottery ticket or paying for an "emotional experience." If you make money, consider it good luck; if you lose, it doesn’t hurt your core finances.

**Study the underlying blockchains, not just the tokens:** Instead of chasing the next meme hype—be it turtle or frog—pay attention to which public chains are actually getting real user growth and ecosystem development from these crazes. That’s where long-term value might actually accumulate.

After this hype fades, only a mess will be left behind. But have you ever wondered why, every time a "turtle shell" gets tossed out, there’s always a crowd scrambling to catch it?

Retail investors should "wait patiently for the right opportunity and strike hard and accurately." Don’t always play a supporting role in someone else’s story.