What is Russell (RUSSELL) crypto coin? The truth about Coinbase's meme token

Dec, 14 2025

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Current market data from article: $2.23M market cap $37,650 24h volume $0.0024 price

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Important Risk Warning

Russell (RUSSELL) has extremely low liquidity with 98.7% of trading on Uniswap v2. Trading large amounts can result in 10-20% slippage due to market manipulation risk. The SEC may target meme coins tied to executives. Only invest what you can afford to lose.

There’s a crypto coin floating around called Russell (RUSSELL) - and no, it’s not some secret project from a Silicon Valley lab. It’s a meme coin named after Russell, the Akita Inu dog owned by Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong. Launched in late 2024, it exploded briefly in November, hitting a peak of $0.0262, then crashed hard. Today, it’s trading around $0.0024, down over 90% from its high. If you’re wondering if this is a real investment or just a viral joke, here’s what actually matters.

It’s a meme coin with a celebrity dog connection

Russell isn’t trying to solve blockchain scalability or revolutionize DeFi. It’s a meme coin - pure and simple. But it’s not just any meme coin. It’s tied to one of the biggest names in crypto: Coinbase. The token’s entire identity is built on the image of Russell, the dog, who’s been photographed at Coinbase events and even has his own Twitter account. That connection gave it instant visibility. People bought in not because of tech, but because they liked the story. It’s like buying a shirt with a celebrity’s pet on it - fun, flashy, but not exactly a long-term asset.

How it works - technically

Russell runs on Coinbase’s Base blockchain, which is a Layer 2 solution built on Ethereum. That means transactions are faster and cheaper than on Ethereum mainnet. The token is an ERC-20 standard, so it works with any wallet that supports Base - MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, or Rabby. Its smart contract address is 0x0C5142BC58f9A61AB8C3D2085DD2F4e550c5cE0B. That’s the only official version. There are at least 17 fake versions floating around on decentralized exchanges, so always double-check the address before buying.

It has a fixed max supply of 1 billion tokens. Right now, 970 million are in circulation. That means almost all the tokens are already out there. No more minting. No more surprise drops. That’s unusual for a meme coin - most keep printing new supply to fuel hype. Russell didn’t. That could mean one of two things: either the team was honest, or they dumped everything early.

Market numbers - messy and misleading

The numbers for Russell are all over the place. CoinMarketCap says it’s worth $2.35 million. Coinbase says $2.23 million. Investing.com says $7.29 million. Why the gap? Because different platforms use different methods to calculate price. Some average across exchanges. Others weight volume. Russell trades almost entirely on Uniswap v2 on Base - 98.7% of all volume. That’s a red flag. When a token trades on just one exchange, it’s easy to manipulate.

The 24-hour trading volume is around $37,650. That’s tiny for a token with a $2+ million market cap. That means if you try to sell $1,000 worth, you’ll likely crash the price. Slippage is brutal. Users report losing 10-20% just trying to exit. One Reddit user wrote: “I bought $500. Tried to sell. Ended up with $420 after fees and slippage. Felt like being robbed.”

Falling RUSSELL price chart made of polygons, with investors walking away from a crumbling market.

Who owns it?

There are about 115,000 holders. That sounds like a lot - until you realize most of them hold less than $10. A handful of wallets control over 30% of the supply. That’s typical for meme coins, but it’s risky. If one of those big holders decides to sell, the price can collapse in minutes. No institutional investors are known to hold Russell. It’s all retail - people who saw a meme, got FOMO, and jumped in.

Why it’s a high-risk gamble

Russell has zero utility. No app. No staking. No rewards. No roadmap. No GitHub updates in 90 days. The project’s website is just a landing page with a dog photo and a link to Uniswap. That’s it. CoinMarketCap gave it a 3.2/5 rating - “moderate community engagement, concerning liquidity.” Analysts at CoinGecko and Delphi Digital call it a “high-risk speculative asset.”

It’s also under regulatory scrutiny. The SEC has been targeting meme coins with executive ties since its June 2023 case against Coinbase. Russell’s connection to Brian Armstrong makes it a potential target. If the SEC decides to act, it could freeze trading or force exchanges to delist it. No one knows if that will happen - but the risk is real.

Empty digital billboard with Russell's dog image, surrounded by 17 fake token icons spinning in void.

How people made money - and lost it

Some early buyers did well. One Trustpilot review from December 2024 says they bought at $0.0003 in October and sold at $0.007 in November - a 2,233% profit. But that’s the exception. Most people bought near the top. Since its November peak, the price has dropped over 90%. In the last 7 days, it’s down 3%, while the broader crypto market is up 1.4%. It’s underperforming even other meme coins.

The biggest complaint? Liquidity. You can’t buy big. You can’t sell big. If you have more than $500 in Russell, you’re stuck. The bid-ask spread is razor-thin - 0.007261 to 0.007288 - but the depth is nonexistent. If you try to sell 10,000 tokens, you’ll get filled at a fraction of the price. That’s not market inefficiency - that’s market death.

Should you buy it?

If you’re looking for a long-term investment, skip it. Russell has no future beyond speculation. It’s not a store of value. It’s not a medium of exchange. It’s not even a community project with goals - just a dog and a contract.

If you’re gambling, and you understand the risk, here’s how to do it safely:

Only use the official contract: 0x0C5142BC58f9A61AB8C3D2085DD2F4e550c5cE0B
Buy on Coinbase’s exchange if you’re verified - it’s the safest route
If using Uniswap, connect your wallet directly to Base network
Never invest more than you can afford to lose - think $50, not $5,000
Set a hard exit point. If it hits $0.005, take profit. If it drops to $0.001, cut losses

What’s next for Russell?

There’s no roadmap. No team updates. No developer activity. The only thing keeping it alive is the meme. If the dog photo disappears from Coinbase’s socials, or if Brian Armstrong stops mentioning Russell, the hype could vanish overnight. Some analysts say meme coins with celebrity ties have a 38% higher survival rate - but they still lose 82% of their value within six months. Russell is already past that window.

Right now, it’s a ghost town. The Telegram group has 4,300 members, but only 3-4 posts a day. No devs. No announcements. Just people checking prices and complaining about slippage.

It’s not dead. But it’s not alive either. It’s floating. Waiting for the next meme to come along.

Is Russell (RUSSELL) a real cryptocurrency?

Yes, Russell is a real token with a verified smart contract on Coinbase’s Base blockchain. But it’s not a serious project. It has no utility, no development team, and no roadmap. It exists purely as a meme coin tied to Coinbase CEO’s dog.

Can I buy Russell on Coinbase?

Yes, verified Coinbase users can buy Russell directly on Coinbase’s exchange. It’s one of the safest ways to acquire it, because you avoid the risk of fake tokens on decentralized exchanges. If you’re not verified, you can still buy it via Uniswap on Base using a wallet like MetaMask.

What’s the contract address for Russell?

The official contract address is 0x0C5142BC58f9A61AB8C3D2085DD2F4e550c5cE0B. Always verify this before buying. There are at least 17 scam versions of Russell on decentralized exchanges with similar names and logos.

Why is Russell’s price so volatile?

Russell’s price swings because of low liquidity and high speculation. With only $37,650 traded in 24 hours against a $2.2 million market cap, even small trades can move the price by 10-20%. It’s also heavily concentrated - a few wallets hold over 30% of supply. When they move, the market reacts violently.

Is Russell a good long-term investment?

No. Russell has no utility, no development activity, and no institutional backing. Its value is based entirely on hype and meme culture. Most analysts rate its long-term sustainability as “low.” If you’re looking to hold crypto for years, choose something with real use cases - not a dog photo.

Can the SEC shut down Russell?

Yes, potentially. The SEC has already taken action against tokens tied to company executives, like its 2023 case against Coinbase. Russell’s direct link to Brian Armstrong makes it legally vulnerable. If the SEC classifies it as an unregistered security, exchanges could be forced to delist it, and trading could be restricted.

How many people own Russell?

As of December 2024, there are 115,380 unique holders. But most hold tiny amounts - under $10. A small number of wallets control over 30% of the supply, meaning the majority of holders have little influence on price.

Where can I find updates about Russell?

There are no official updates. The project has no blog, no Twitter account, and no GitHub activity. The only active community is an unofficial Telegram group with 4,321 members, but developers don’t participate. Any “official” announcements are likely scams.

19 Comments

Madhavi Shyam
December 15, 2025 AT 12:53

Russell isn't a coin-it's a liquidity trap wrapped in a dog meme. ERC-20 on Base? Sure. But 970M circulating with $37k daily volume? That's not a market, that's a rigged slot machine.
Mark Cook
December 16, 2025 AT 09:37

LMAO they said 'no roadmap'-but the roadmap is just for the dog to nap on Brian's desk 😂🐶
Jack Daniels
December 16, 2025 AT 17:47

I bought $200 at the peak. Now I just check the price every 3 hours like it's gonna wake up and hug me. It won't. I'm addicted.
Bradley Cassidy
December 16, 2025 AT 19:46

so like… russia? no wait russell? the dog? the coin? the SEC’s next target? i’m so confused but also weirdly invested lol 🤷‍♂️💥
Samantha West
December 18, 2025 AT 06:45

The structural integrity of this asset is fundamentally compromised by the absence of utility, governance, or developmental trajectory. One cannot construct a sustainable economic model upon canine iconography.
Craig Nikonov
December 18, 2025 AT 21:09

Coinbase is laundering meme hype through a dog. The SEC’s already got the subpoena ready. They’re just waiting for the next whale to dump.
Donna Goines
December 20, 2025 AT 02:18

Did you know the dog’s Twitter account was created by a bot farm in Moldova? And Brian Armstrong doesn’t even own the dog-his assistant does. This whole thing’s a psyop.
Greg Knapp
December 21, 2025 AT 15:50

why do people still talk about this thing its been dead since november i just keep refreshing my wallet like its gonna magically turn into a lambo
Shruti Sinha
December 22, 2025 AT 17:37

It’s fascinating how emotional narratives can override rational investment logic. The dog’s image, not the tokenomics, drove the initial spike.
Cheyenne Cotter
December 24, 2025 AT 12:40

Look, I get it. Meme coins are fun. But Russell? It’s like buying a limited-edition Starbucks cup with a celebrity’s cat on it-looks cute in your Instagram story, but when you try to sell it on eBay, no one bids. And now you’re stuck with 17 fake versions in your wallet and a $400 loss. I’ve been there. Don’t be that person.
Sean Kerr
December 25, 2025 AT 13:07

you got this!! 💪 even if it crashes, you learned something-never trust a coin with no devs and a dog pic 🐶❤️
Heather Turnbow
December 26, 2025 AT 13:12

I appreciate the clarity of this analysis. The absence of developer activity, coupled with concentrated ownership, presents a significant risk profile that should not be underestimated by retail participants.
Jesse Messiah
December 28, 2025 AT 10:40

hey everyone just wanted to say if you bought russell at the top its okay you’re not alone i did too and now we’re all just chillin waiting for the dog to bark again 🐕✨
Rebecca Kotnik
December 28, 2025 AT 14:11

While the narrative surrounding Russell is undeniably compelling from a cultural perspective, its economic foundation remains tenuous at best. The concentration of supply among a small number of wallets, combined with negligible liquidity, renders it susceptible to extreme manipulation. One must question whether the emotional resonance of a pet can sustain value in the absence of functional utility.
Terrance Alan
December 28, 2025 AT 22:26

Everyone’s acting like this is a scam but it’s worse-it’s a corporate experiment. Coinbase is testing how far they can push retail greed before regulators crack down. They already got their fee revenue. We’re the lab rats.
Sally Valdez
December 30, 2025 AT 00:00

Oh so now it’s a scam because a CEO’s dog got famous? Next they’ll say your kid’s birthday party is insider trading. Wake up. America is built on memes and madness. Russell is the American Dream in crypto form.
Elvis Lam
December 31, 2025 AT 20:58

Official contract: 0x0C5142BC58f9A61AB8C3D2085DD2F4e550c5cE0B. Double-check it. Every single time. There are 17 fake versions with slight spelling differences. I’ve seen people lose $10k because they copied the wrong address from a Telegram bot.
Sammy Tam
December 31, 2025 AT 22:38

the dog’s got more followers than some blockchain projects. imagine if he had a token for his naps… RUSSELLNAP. 100B supply. 99% burned. 1% for the vet bills. i’d buy that.
Jonny Cena
January 1, 2026 AT 13:07

if you’re reading this and you’re holding russell-breathe. you’re not alone. the market’s quiet, but that doesn’t mean you failed. you’re learning. and next time? you’ll check the contract. you’ll check the volume. you’ll remember the dog. and you’ll be better for it. 🐕💛