Unofficial Catholic Meme Coin LUCE Surges as Bettors Wager On Next Pope
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, leading to significant activity in crypto markets and betting platforms. LUCE, a Solana-based meme coin linked to the Vatican's upcoming Holy Year 2025, surged approximately 45%, trading at $0.013 with a daily volume increase from $5 million to $60.27 million. Despite being unofficial, LUCE has around 44,800 holders but remains down 95% from its peak of $0.30. Betting markets have emerged regarding papal succession, with Italy's Cardinal Pietro Parolin at a 37% probability of being elected, followed by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle at 27%. A papal conclave will convene within three weeks to elect the next pope for the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis in 2013, died at 88 after a stroke. He was known for his criticism of technological excesses and called for responsible AI development.
