In the fast-paced world of crypto, sometimes a single tweet can ignite a firestorm. That's exactly what happened to Thiru, the DevRel at Metis L2, when he posted about landing in Argentina for Devconnect. What started as an innocent check-in ballooned into a viral phenomenon with nearly 20 million views, exposing ugly undercurrents of racism but also showcasing the power of community solidarity. Recently, Thiru sat down with Rob and Andy on The Rollup podcast, live from Devconnect in Buenos Aires, to break it all down.

The episode kicks off with the backstory. Thiru shared a selfie with the caption "Argentina I'm in you. Frens let's connect before @EFDevcon." It seemed harmless, but the comments section quickly filled with racist remarks, many in Spanish from what appeared to be local accounts, though later reports suggested much of it came from U.S.-based trolls. As Thiru explains around the 2:29 mark, the first wave of hate caught him off guard, with X's algorithm seemingly prioritizing those negative responses.

Things escalated rapidly. By the 4:43 timestamp, Thiru recounts how the post jumped from 100K to 1M views overnight. The virality brought more attention, but not all positive at first. He admits at 7:41 that his initial worry was, "I don't want my parents to see this," highlighting the personal toll of online harassment. For those new to crypto lingo, Devconnect is an Ethereum-focused event where developers and enthusiasts gather to discuss blockchain tech, and Metis L2 is a layer-2 scaling solution built on Ethereum, aiming to make transactions faster and cheaper.

But the story takes an uplifting turn. Around 11:18, Thiru describes how the crypto community rallied. Support poured in from fellow builders, turning the tide against the haters. Even local Argentinians stepped up in real life, approaching him at events and on the streets to apologize and show solidarity. This online-to-offline support was a highlight, proving that crypto's global network can foster genuine connections.

The incident didn't stop at social media drama. It made headlines in Indian press, as Thiru notes at 8:22, amplifying discussions on racism in tech spaces. Interestingly, the backlash may have influenced bigger moves in the ecosystem. Just days after, on November 22, 2025, the Ethereum Foundation announced Devcon 8 would be held in Mumbai, India, in Q4 2026. While not explicitly stated, the timing and context suggest it was a nod to India's growing crypto scene and a stand against the prejudice highlighted by Thiru's experience. India leads in crypto adoption, with the most new developers joining in 2024, per Chainalysis reports.

Then there's the meme coin angle, which ties right into what we cover here at Meme Insider. At 14:46 in the podcast, Thiru addresses the fake "Thiru" meme coin that grifters launched to capitalize on the hype. He warns listeners outright: "Don't buy that coin and don't lose your money." Meme coins, for the uninitiated, are cryptocurrencies often inspired by internet memes or viral moments, traded for fun or speculation. But fakes like this one are common scams, where creators pump the price and then dump, leaving buyers in the red. Thiru's case shows how viral fame can attract opportunists, but also how staying vigilant keeps the community safe.

Thiru reflects on the "viral creator opportunity" at 13:07, pondering if he'd post something similar again. Spoiler: he probably would, emphasizing the positive outcomes like new connections and raised awareness. The episode wraps up with thoughts on X's algorithm and how it can amplify negativity before positivity catches up.

This story is a reminder of crypto's dual nature—innovative and inclusive, yet not immune to real-world issues like racism. If you're into meme tokens, keep an eye on how viral events like this spawn new projects, but always DYOR (do your own research). For the full scoop, check out the podcast on The Rollup's YouTube or wherever you stream. What do you think—has this changed how you view crypto communities? Drop your thoughts below.