Digital Assets Based on Internet Culture: A Comprehensive Analysis of Meme Coins and Their Place in the Crypto Ecosystem

Introduction to the Phenomenon of Meme Coins

The cryptocurrency market is constantly evolving, and one of its most notable trends has been the emergence of meme coins — digital assets inspired by internet culture and collective investor psychology. Unlike traditional cryptocurrencies that focus on technological innovation and solving practical problems, meme coins derive value through community engagement and speculative interest.

This phenomenon began modestly with Dogecoin in 2013 and has developed into a significant market segment. By 2024-2025, we observe the appearance of personal tokens from political figures and celebrities, indicating the evolution and maturation of this sector.

Essence and Characteristics of Meme Coins

Meme coins are cryptocurrencies that originated based on popular internet memes or humorous concepts. Their fundamental difference from standard digital assets lies in their source of value:

Main features:

1. Cultural nature — rooted in internet culture trends, embodying collective humor and entertainment
2. Community base — characterized by active communities of like-minded individuals united around common interests
3. Lack of practical utility — unlike utility tokens, most meme coins do not offer access to services or functions within a blockchain ecosystem
4. Extreme volatility — price fluctuations can reach dozens or hundreds of percent within days
5. Dependence on social factors — their value largely depends on the activity of influential figures and trends on social media

The term is sometimes used as a synonym for “shitcoin,” but supporters point out that some meme coins have reached market capitalizations in the billions.

Development Trajectory and Historical Milestones

The emergence of meme coins began at the end of 2013 with the release of Dogecoin — the first widely recognized experiment with a humorous token. Subsequently, this format attracted significant attention.

Key stages of transformation:

Pioneering period (2013-2020)
Dogecoin was created by programmers as a parody of Bitcoin hype. Since then, it has gained steady support from major industry players. Reaching a market cap of $62 billion, it ranks among the top 10 cryptocurrencies.

Celebrity influence era (2021-2023)
A peak period occurred when influential personalities actively promoted meme coins. Tweets and statements about Dogecoin generated waves of speculative activity.

Wave of government adoption and personal tokens (2024-2025)
The 2024 US election campaign sparked a new trend — the launch of political meme coins. The $Trump token reached a peak capitalization of $27 billion within days. Melania, wife of the 45th president, launched her own version, which lost 90% of its value in weeks. The President of the Central African Republic announced a national meme coin, $CAR, but it lost 95% of its value in one trading day.

How Meme Coins Function in the Crypto Ecosystem

The technical mechanism of meme coins does not differ from other cryptocurrencies — they are hosted on blockchain platforms, enabling decentralized and secure transactions. However, their economy is primarily built on speculative dynamics.

Operation mechanics:

Creators develop tokens on existing blockchains (most often Solana or Ethereum), launch them on the market, and depend on organic growth of interest. Their value is determined solely by supply and demand — there are no fundamental valuation metrics.

Millions of meme coins have been launched on Solana and Base over recent years. Trading volumes of these tokens at the beginning of 2025 exceeded $6 billion daily. Some projects use smart contracts for additional features — staking or special rewards for holders.

Unlike utility tokens, meme coins do not provide access to services within the ecosystem — they are simply traded as speculative assets.

The Most Prominent Meme Coins in the Current Market

Dogecoin (DOGE)
The pioneer of the genre, which evolved from a joke to a serious asset. Support from influential figures and a stable community secured its place in the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market cap ($62 billion). Used for charitable donations and tips online.

Shiba Inu (SHIB)
Launched in 2020 as a “competitor to Dogecoin.” Being on Ethereum, it gained access to DeFi features and smart contracts, expanding its potential compared to the original.

Pepe (PEPE)
Re-launched in 2023 based on the viral internet meme “Pepe the Frog.” Reached a valuation of $8.2 billion thanks to an active community of creators and collectors.

Trump Token ($Trump)
Officially introduced three days before the second inauguration. Reached a market cap of $27 billion in one day. Trump’s companies hold about $20 billion of this volume. However, early participants experienced losses of $2 billion during a price recession.

Melania Token ($Melania)
Launched by the wife of the president in January 2025. Experienced a sharp decline of 90% within weeks.

Bonk (BONK)
Representative of the Solana ecosystem, integrated into decentralized apps (dApps) and NFT platforms. Its market cap is approximately $3 billion.

HAWK Token ($HAWK)
Launched by American internet personality Hayley Welch in December 2024. Peak volume of $490 million quickly shrank to $25 million. The project has become the subject of investigations regarding possible “pump-and-dump” schemes and insider trading.

Government and Political Variants
The President of Argentina proposed $LIBRA as a means to finance small businesses. The Central African Republic introduced $CAR as a “test” in national development.

Advantages and Risks of Participating in the Meme Coin Market

Potential Benefits:

Short-term profits can be significant due to the viral nature of these assets. Entering with a small capital offers the opportunity for high percentage gains. The community of like-minded individuals provides educational opportunities and network effects. Traders can identify opportunities for short-term speculation on volatility. For beginners, it can be an inexpensive entry point into crypto with minimal investment.

Serious Threats:

Volatility can reach extreme levels — a project may lose 95% of its value in a single trading day. The market is flooded with scams, abandoned projects, and “pump-and-dump” manipulations. The lack of fundamental value means prices depend solely on sentiment. Low liquidity of many tokens complicates exiting positions. Regulatory uncertainty — Thailand has completely banned meme coins, the UK has investigated advertising. However, in February 2025, the US SEC clarified that typical meme coins are not classified as securities.

How to Create Your Own Meme Coin

The technical barrier to launching a meme coin is minimal. Programming skills are not required — automated platforms have simplified the process to a few steps.

Main steps:

1. Choose a blockchain (most popular options are Solana, Ethereum, Base)
2. Connect a cryptocurrency wallet
3. Use a token constructor to set parameters
4. Set name, symbol, and total supply
5. Upload a logo
6. Pay a small deployment fee
7. Start promotion via social media

On Pump.fun, 5.3 million meme coins were launched between January 2024 and January 2025 — about 15,200 launches daily.

Marketing component:

Success depends on creating an attractive image, activating social media, organizing airdrops, and clear communication with the target audience.

Legal considerations:

A typical meme coin is not considered a security under US law. However, fraudulent schemes can lead to federal prosecution. It is recommended to check local legislation before launching.

How to Buy Meme Coins: A Practical Guide

For those wishing to enter this market as investors, cryptocurrency exchanges offer specialized conditions. MEXC is an accessible platform for such operations.

Step 1: Registration and Verification
Create an account on the chosen exchange and complete KYC (know your customer) procedures for full trading access.

Step 2: Funding Methods
Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard) — fastest option
P2P trading — purchase directly from other users
International bank transfers (SEPA)
Third-party payment services (Simplex, Banxa, Mercuryo)

Step 3: Spot Trading
Order USDT or another stablecoin and use it to exchange for the selected meme coin.

Step 4: Order Types
Limit orders — set your price
Market orders — immediate purchase at current price
Stop-limit orders — automated buy when reaching target price
OCO orders — one order cancels the other after execution

Step 5: Asset Management
Keep tokens on the exchange for quick trading or transfer to a cold wallet for long-term storage.

Security measures:
Use strong, unique passwords
Enable two-factor authentication
Consider transferring significant amounts to cold wallets
Invest only what you can afford to lose

Future Prospects and Development

The future of meme coins depends on several factors — regulatory decisions, institutional interest, and technological evolution.

Expected trends:

Celebrity tokens: The success of political and personal variants indicates further dissemination of this format.

Government adoption: Experiments with national meme coins by governments may expand.

Institutional maturation: In January 2025, US asset managers planned to launch exchange-traded funds for meme coins. Financial publications described this as “casino-style speculation,” but it signals growing professional interest.

Enhanced utility: Some future projects may include practical use cases beyond speculation.

Regulatory clarity: Ongoing clarification of meme coin status globally will simplify operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make big money on meme coins?
Yes, but risks are equivalent. Early participants in viral projects received multiple returns, but most investors suffered losses.

Where to find new meme coins before their launch?
Specialized platforms, social media, and crypto forums often serve as early information sources.

Is it safe to store meme coins on exchanges?
For active trading — convenient, for long-term storage — consider cold wallets.

What are the legal risks?
Typical meme coins are not considered securities in the US, but scams can lead to criminal liability.

How to identify a scam project?
Anonymous developers, promises of guaranteed profits, lack of transparency, no development plan.

Summary

Meme coins have evolved from a humorous experiment into a significant segment of the crypto market. From Dogecoin to political tokens in 2024-2025, they have demonstrated the ability to mobilize capital and audience interest on scales exceeding skeptics’ expectations.

However, the nature of these assets remains speculative and risky. High volatility, frequent scams, and lack of fundamental value make them unsuitable for conservative investors.

Critical success depends on three factors: understanding market dynamics, strict risk management, and discipline to invest only within acceptable destructive capital limits.

As regulatory frameworks develop and infrastructure matures, meme coins may find a more stable place in the digital financial system. But for now, they remain primarily tools of speculation, emotional intelligence, and market intuition.