Changes the X handle mask to Kekius Maximus. What does it mean?

Right-wing billionaire Elon Musk has changed his name to “Kekius Maximus” on X, the social media platform he owns, indicating support for some form of digital currency.

The world’s richest man changed his name to X on Tuesday and updated his profile picture to an edited image of “Pepe the Frog”, a meme co-opted by hate groups.

Musk has been with President-elect Donald Trump since winning the election and appears to be one of his closest advisers. He has also been introduced as the co-chairman of the Ministry of Efficiency of the new government. Along with co-leader Vivek Ramaswamy, Musk has promised to cut hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding in the role.

Here’s everything we know about the powerful billionaire’s name and avatar changes in X — and the meaning behind them:

What is Caecius Maximus?

Kekius Maximus – also known as $KEKIUS – is the name of a memecoin, a cryptocurrency with a name and mascot inspired by memes shared online. Musk has backed other memecoins in the past, such as Dogecoin, a currency associated with the world-famous Shibu Ino dog meme.

The name appears to be a combination of the word “kek” and the character Maximus Decimus Meridius from the 2000 film. gladiator, Newsweek reports

Since Musk changed its name to X, the value of the digital currency has increased by at least 700%.

While changing his name and photo, Musk shared a photo of a Pepe the Frog meme dressed in ancient Roman armor touching a rock with “80” engraved on it. The title reads: “Kekius Maximus will soon reach level 80 in hardcore PoE.”

“PoE” probably refers to it Path of exile 2a video game Musk had previously said he was playing.

Musk also shared a post with the words “Kekius Maximus” on December 13.

Hate group connection with Pepe the Frog and “Kek”

Musk’s new profile picture depicts online meme Pepe the Frog, also known as the “Sad Frog Meme,” dressed as an ancient Roman while holding a video game controller.

Created by artist Matt Fury, the Pepe the Frog character is not inherently racist or anti-Semitic. However, according to the Anti-Defamation League, it has been co-opted by far-right hate groups and used to spread hateful messages on online platforms including 4chan, 8chan and Reddit.

The ADL reports that these hateful memes spiked during the 2016 presidential election and have been on the rise ever since.

“Although Pepe memes have many defenders, the use of racist and bigoted versions of Pepe memes appears to be increasing, not decreasing,” the ADL writes on its website.

Meanwhile, “kek” was coined as a synonym for “LOL” among World of Warcraft players. In Egyptian mythology, there is also a god named Kek.

However, according to research by journalist David Neuert published by the Southern Poverty Law Center, “kek” has also been used by white nationalists online, especially when combined with the Pepe the Frog meme.

Neiwert reports that images of Pepe with the phrase “kek” were similarly selected.

Trump and Musk have been close since the campaign (AP)

“Kek, according to the ‘other right’, is a semi-ironic ‘religious’ ‘god’ that the white nationalist movement has created for itself in cyberspace – partly for fun, as a way to troll liberals and more egotistical conservatives,” the paper said. Negar wrote for the SPLC.

Far-right communities have since developed the idea of ”Kakistan”, an imaginary country for which supporters have created a fake national flag.

The flag, which has often been seen at far-right demonstrations in the United States, “looks exactly like the war flag of Nazi Germany,” according to Neuert.

Meanwhile, Musk recently endorsed Alternative for Germany, a far-right political party that espouses hateful anti-immigrant rhetoric. The billionaire also previously promoted the far-right “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory, which falsely warns of “white extinction” and suggests that white Americans are being deliberately replaced by immigrants.

Independent Musk has been contacted for comment.