Old-School Gaming Nostalgia Drives MLG Surge
The Solana meme coin 360noscope420blazeit (MLG) has skyrocketed in value by 5,200% over six days, trading on nostalgic memories of Call of Duty’s golden era. The token taps into early 2010s gaming culture, where Call of Duty montages and trick shots ruled online communities.
Named after iconic gaming memes like “360 no scope” and “420 blaze it,” MLG captured attention by evoking simpler times before microtransactions and overly complex gameplay mechanics dominated modern titles.
A Meme Coin Backed by Call of Duty Servers
Initially launched in April 2024, MLG combines nostalgia with an active gaming community. Its team, humorously referred to as “clan leaders,” runs custom Call of Duty servers loaded with MLG-themed texture packs. At present, there are servers for games such as Modern Warfare 3, Black Ops 2, and the remastered Modern Warfare 2, with plans to add more.
“People are annoyed with how modern video games are handled. They reminisce on the golden age of gaming,” said pseudonymous clan leader Munnopoly. He noted that MLG has drawn attention from traditional gamers unfamiliar with crypto, prompting many to download Phantom wallets and buy the token.
FaZe Clan’s Involvement Fuels Hype
MLG’s popularity soared after FaZe Clan co-founder Richard “FaZe Banks” Bengtson got involved. Following FaZe Clan’s rebrand on January 1, which introduced glitchy camouflage designs, MLG quickly updated its servers to reflect the new FaZe aesthetic. Banks loved the effort, bought 50 SOL ($9,700) worth of MLG, and started promoting it.
That same day, the token’s value shot up by 275%, pushing its market cap to $11 million. The hype continued to snowball, with Banks promising to 1v1 crypto influencer Jakey on the iconic Modern Warfare 2 map Rust for 100 SOL ($19,500) if the token hit a $69 million market cap.
By January 7, MLG’s market cap had exploded to $164.45 million, and Banks honored his promise by getting an MLG tattoo on his arm.
A New Take on Crypto Gaming
Unlike typical crypto games, which often rely on microtransactions or low-effort gameplay, MLG brings nostalgia-driven fun through custom servers of traditional games like Call of Duty. “Most people hear crypto gaming and think of low-quality knockoffs, but MLG shows a different approach,” said Munnopoly.
Jakey, an MLG token investor, echoed the sentiment: “Gaming and crypto share similar roots—both were once for outcasts until their cultures evolved into something mainstream.”
He pointed out that while many gamers initially rejected crypto due to poor implementations by studios like Ubisoft, MLG proves there’s potential for merging the two worlds.
Final Thoughts
MLG’s meteoric rise highlights a new path for crypto gaming—one rooted in nostalgia, community-driven projects, and authentic gaming culture. Rather than trying to force blockchain technology into games, MLG leans on the vibe and spirit of a beloved era, earning both massive gains and a devoted following.
