Crypto Shock: Dogecoin Whale “Big Balls” Resigns—What His Exit Means for DOGE Price

Key aide Edward “Big Balls” Coristine, 19, quits Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) WASHINGTON—Edward Coristine, the 19-year-old technologist whose audacious online handle “Big Balls” became shorthand for the Musk-backed government cost-cutting crusade, has abruptly resigned from the Department of Government Efficiency, the White House confirmed late Tuesday night. Why it matters • Coristine was one of the youngest federal officials ever granted broad clearance to slice agency budgets and migrate data to Elon Musk’s AI tools. • His exit comes four weeks after Musk himself walked away from DOGE amid mounting legal scrutiny and staff defections. • The departure raises fresh doubts about whether President Trump’s signature “drain the bureaucracy” initiative can survive the loss of its most public-facing personalities. Inside the resignation White House spokespersons offered no explanation, saying only that Coristine “no longer serves in the administration.” Multiple sources familiar with DOGE’s Slack channels say Coristine had clashed with interim director Steve Davis over a proposal to automate pink-slip delivery using Musk’s Grok-AI chatbot. Career built on controversy • Neuralink alumnus: Coristine joined DOGE after building firmware for Musk’s brain-computer interface project. • Security clouds: Reuters reporting earlier this year linked him to a hacker forum that traded in stolen government credentials, allegations he denied. • Viral persona: TikTok compilations of his profanity-laced pep talks to furloughed workers racked up 87 million views, cementing the “Big Balls” moniker as an internet meme. What’s next for DOGE Acting leadership insists the department will “press forward” with a mandate to cut federal spending by 15 percent before the November election. But analysts at Brookings warn that losing both Musk and Coristine deprives DOGE of the star power that propelled agencies to comply. Possible paths for Coristine Industry watchers say crypto start-ups and defense contractors are already courting him. Given his social-media following, a pivot to influencer-investor hybrids like the “techno-populist” space would not surprise insiders familiar with his brand strategy. Bottom line The resignation of “Big Balls” removes the most colorful—and controversial—figure from Washington’s most disruptive cost-cutting experiment, amplifying uncertainty about the future of DOGE and giving congressional critics fresh ammunition as budget negotiations heat up.