Cryptocurrency created by internet culture - An overview of meme coins

The cryptocurrency market is constantly generating new phenomena, and among them, Meme Coins are a unique presence. These digital assets, born from internet memes and pop culture, operate on a logic different from traditional cryptocurrencies, making them a very intriguing area. This article provides a detailed explanation from the basics of meme coins to investment methods and future predictions.

What Are Meme Coins – Understanding the Basics

Meme coins are cryptocurrencies inspired by internet memes, pop culture, or humor.

While mainstream cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum focus on solving technical issues and system utility, meme coins take a different approach.

Five Characteristics Defining Meme Coins

1. Cultural Roots: Embodying the fun of internet culture, their casual nature has been introduced into the crypto world.

2. Community-Driven: A strong group sharing humor forms, creating a sense of camaraderie among members.

3. Limited Utility: Often, they have no clear use cases outside of buying and selling.

4. Extreme Price Volatility: Highly speculative, with prices sometimes skyrocketing dozens of times in a short period or crashing over 90% in a single day.

5. Susceptible to SNS Influence: Their prices can surge or plummet rapidly due to tweets by celebrities or TikTok trends.

Some people use the term “shitcoin” to refer to “cryptocurrencies with no substance,” which includes meme coins, but supporters argue that “some meme coins have gained social value, grown into huge market caps, and influence the entire market.”

History of Meme Coins – Evolution from 2013 to 2025

The story of meme coins begins in late 2013 with the birth of Dogecoin.

Key Development Stages

2013: Emergence of Dogecoin
Inspired by the popular “Doge” meme on the internet, Dogecoin was created as a joke and eventually became a pioneer among meme coins. Today, its market cap has reached about $62 billion (roughly 9 trillion yen), with growth heavily influenced by celebrity support.

2021-2022: Elon Musk Effect
This period marked meme coins entering the mainstream. Elon Musk supported Dogecoin, making statements like “Doge is the people’s crypto” and “The Doge of Mars,” which drew worldwide attention.

2021: Regulatory Movements
Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission banned meme coins, citing they are “digital products without clear purpose or substance.” In the UK, promotion ads for meme coins were regulated as unregulated financial products and investigated.

2024-2025: Political Revival
After Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election, meme coins related to Trump surged. Fartcoin briefly reached a valuation of $2 billion, and Trump himself announced a “TRUMP” meme coin just before his inauguration. The next day, its market cap soared to $27 billion.

2025: Adoption at the National Level
In February, the President of the Central African Republic announced the national meme coin “CAR” via an official account, but it dropped 95% within a day. Argentine President Javier Milei promoted the “LIBRA” meme coin, positioning it as an economic measure under the pretext of “small business funding.”

Technology of Meme Coins – How They Work on Blockchain

Meme coins, like other cryptocurrencies, are fundamentally supported by blockchain technology. They operate on a decentralized system that does not require a central administrator, ensuring transparency and tamper resistance.

Technical Components

Deployed on Existing Blockchains
Most meme coins are built on established blockchains like Solana or Base. Individuals or groups design tokens and then start marketing. In 2024, Solana and Base were the most popular platforms for creating meme coins.

Token Creation and Issuance
Many meme coins are created with the sole function of being tradable. By early 2025, daily trading volume of meme coins exceeded $6 billion, indicating a vibrant market.

Community Dynamics
A distinctive feature of meme coins is organizing fans around specific themes or humor, often leading to viral marketing and organic growth in popularity.

Understanding Market Dynamics
Despite their humorous origins, trading meme coins requires a deep understanding of market trends and risk management due to their high volatility.

Notable Meme Coins in the Market

The current meme coin market is rapidly growing, with coins that started as jokes reaching significant market sizes.

List of Representative Meme Coins

Dogecoin (DOGE)
With a market cap of about $62 billion (roughly 9 trillion yen), driven by a dedicated community and celebrity support. In 2025, a Dogecoin-linked ETF was approved in the US, emerging as a new financial product allowing institutional investors access to meme coins.

Shiba Inu (SHIB)
Appeared as a competitor to Dogecoin, building its own ecosystem. Through integration with NFTs and DeFi protocols, it aims to go beyond just a meme coin and expand its use cases.

PEPE
A relatively new meme coin launched in 2023, accepted as a return to internet culture. It has strengthened its position in the market.

TRUMP
Announced in January 2025, reaching a market cap of $27 billion the next day. It surged to $70 in January but was around $8 as of September, showing high volatility.

Melania (MELANIA)
Appeared as a Trump-related meme coin, indicating a trend of tokens related to political figures.

BONK
Launched in 2022 within the Solana ecosystem, gaining attention especially among the Solana community. Its utility was added through integration with dApp platforms, reaching a market cap of $3 billion.

Skibidi Twoar (HAWK)
Inspired by the internet meme “Skibidi,” it reached a peak valuation of $490 million but then plummeted to $25 million. Pump-and-dump schemes and rug pulls are suspected.

Central African Republic’s National Coin (CAR)
A government-issued meme coin that dropped 95% within a day of trading start, highlighting challenges in government-level meme coin experiments.

LIBRA (issued in Argentina)
Introduced on February 14, 2025, promoted by the president as a “stimulus for economic growth.”

Chillguy (CHILLGUY)
Based on the internet meme “a chill guy,” gained popularity in early 2025. Its relaxed branding resonates with crypto enthusiasts seeking community-focused projects.

Merits and Realistic Challenges of Investing in Meme Coins

Investing in meme coins offers both great opportunities and significant risks. To make rational decisions, it’s important to understand both sides.

Merits

Potential for High Returns
Viral nature and strong community formation can lead to profits multiplying several times within days. Some coins have reached enormous market caps in a short time.

Value of Community Participation
Joining networks of enthusiasts with similar values provides valuable learning opportunities and connections in the crypto space.

Low Entry Barriers
Generally cheaper than major cryptocurrencies, making them accessible for beginners with limited funds.

Educational Value
Investing in meme coins allows newcomers to learn about blockchain technology and market mechanisms in a relatively low-risk environment.

Abundant Trading Opportunities
The market’s short-term price fluctuations create many chances for traders seeking profit.

Challenges

Extreme Price Volatility
Not suitable for long-term investments seeking stability. Daily drops of over 90% are common.

Fraud Risks
Many projects are abandoned, or involve pump-and-dump schemes and scams, risking significant asset loss.

Lack of Utility
Most meme coins lack practical use cases beyond trading, making their long-term value uncertain.

Liquidity Issues
Less popular meme coins may have limited trading volume, making it difficult to exit positions.

Regulatory Uncertainty
In February 2025, the SEC’s corporate finance division stated that “typical meme coin trading is outside the scope of federal securities law,” but regulatory stances may change, potentially impacting the market significantly.

Meme coin investing is speculative and high-risk. Only invest what you can afford to lose, and conduct thorough research beforehand.

Where to Buy Meme Coins? Practical Guide to Purchase Methods

For those interested in investing in meme coins, here is a detailed explanation of the purchase process.

Step 1: Open an Account on a Major Exchange

First, set up an account on a trusted cryptocurrency exchange.

• Access the official website
• Sign up and register basic information
• Complete KYC (Know Your Customer) verification

Choosing major exchanges ensures security and liquidity.

Step 2: How to Prepare Funds

Multiple deposit methods are available:

• Credit/Debit Card: Most convenient for beginners. Supports Visa and Mastercard.
• P2P/OTC Trading: Direct transactions with other users.
• International Bank Transfer: Deposit stablecoins via SEPA.
• Third-party Payment Services: Through providers like Simplex, Banxa.

For a smooth experience, it’s recommended to first buy stablecoins (USDT, etc.) and then exchange for meme coins.

Step 3: How to Purchase Meme Coins

After funding, execute orders in the spot trading section.

1. Navigate to Trading Screen

   • After login, select “Trade” → “Spot Trading” from the top menu.
   • Use the search function to find the target meme coin (DOGE, SHIB, PEPE, etc.).

2. Select Trading Pair

   • DOGE/USDT: Highest liquidity.
   • SHIB/USDT: Consistent trading volume.
   • PEPE/USDT: Emerging meme coin representative.

Major exchanges offer multiple trading pairs for these coins, allowing users to choose according to their investment strategy.

Future Outlook for Meme Coins – Next Stage of the Market

Opinions on the future of meme coins vary within the crypto community, but some common trends are emerging.

Market Development Scenarios

Continued Celebrity and Politician Tokens
Successes of Trump, Melania, and internet personalities like Highly Welch suggest that personality-dependent tokens will continue to appear and attract attention.

Government Experiments
Cases like Central African Republic and Argentina indicate a trend of governments trialing meme coins for various purposes.

Progress Toward Institutionalization
In January 2025, several US asset management firms planned to list ETFs investing in Trump- and Musk-related meme coins. The Financial Times described it as “casino-like speculation,” but institutional interest is steadily increasing.

Gaining Legitimacy via ETF Approvals
The approval of a DOGE ETF symbolizes meme coins beginning to connect with traditional finance beyond mere speculation. Future developments may include new practical applications such as gaming and social media integration.

Global Regulatory Trends

In February 2025, the SEC clarified that typical meme coin trading is outside the scope of federal securities law. They pointed out that meme coins are purchased for entertainment, social, or cultural purposes, and their value is based on supply, demand, and speculation.

However, regulatory approaches differ by country:

• Thailand SEC bans “substance-less” digital products.
• UK Advertising Standards Authority investigates meme coin promotions.
• Various countries are developing independent regulatory frameworks.

More detailed and clear guidelines are likely to emerge in the future.

Integration with Traditional Finance

Over the coming years, how meme coins evolve and become part of the digital financial system is crucial.

Expansion of Practical Utility
Incorporating use cases that provide long-term value beyond speculation.

Cross-Platform Integration
Extending utility through connections with gaming, social media, and other digital ecosystems.

Technological Innovation
Emergence of meme coins with improved functionality, security, and sustainability driven by blockchain advancements.

Meanwhile, critics compare meme coins to the NFT speculation craze and collapse of 2022. Investor David Einhorn stated, “The market has reached the fart coin cycle… with no clear purpose beyond trading and speculation.”

The future of meme coins is uncertain, but they are undoubtedly establishing a unique position at the intersection of digital culture and finance.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Q1: What is the basic definition of a meme coin?
A: A cryptocurrency born from internet memes, pop culture, or humor. Unlike traditional cryptocurrencies based on technical value, meme coins derive their value from community enthusiasm and speculative expectations.

Q2: What is the general process for buying meme coins?
A: Meme coins are available on multiple crypto exchanges. Smaller or emerging meme coins may only be available on decentralized exchanges (DEX) like Uniswap or PancakeSwap.

Q3: Can I create my own meme coin?
A: Yes. You can create one on Solana or Ethereum by following these steps:

1. Prepare a crypto wallet
2. Use token creation tools
3. Set name, symbol, issuance amount, etc.
4. Pay gas fees to issue the token
5. Promote via social media

However, be cautious of legal risks and scams, and operate responsibly.

Q4: How should I store meme coins securely?
A: The same methods as other cryptocurrencies apply:

• Exchange wallets (easy but less secure)
• Software wallets (e.g., MetaMask; self-managed but risk of losing private keys)
• Hardware wallets (most secure, but with purchase cost)
  For long-term holding, self-management with a trusted wallet is recommended.

Q5: What are the fundamental differences between meme coins and traditional cryptocurrencies?

Summary: Understanding the Essence of the Meme Coin Market

Meme coins represent a fusion of internet culture and cryptocurrencies, bringing a new dimension to digital finance.

While traditional cryptocurrencies emphasize technical utility, meme coins create value through community power and cultural resonance. That is their defining feature.

Since the birth of Dogecoin in 2013, this field has experienced remarkable growth, reaching a total market cap of hundreds of billions of dollars. The emergence of Trump-related tokens and government-approved meme coins suggests that the market is moving beyond a boom phase toward a more structured existence.

Meme coins will continue to evolve as a new cultural and economic phenomenon of the digital age. Their potential is limitless, but the risks are equally significant.

Successful investors treat meme coins not as entertainment but as “super high-risk assets.” It is realistic to start small, establish your own rules and risk management, and avoid being swayed by market hype.

Ultimately, whether meme coins remain mere speculative assets or establish themselves as a new mechanism for digital value creation depends on future technological innovations and community maturity. Watch this fascinating area develop and make wise decisions.