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Author: Waves, Units.Network Founder Sasha Ivanov, CoinTelegraph; Translated by: Tao Zhu, Bitchain Vision
Not long ago, the idea that an online joke could become a multi-billion dollar asset class seemed ridiculous.Today, Meme coins are not just mainstream.They are reshaping the entire market cycle.The United States now has an official Meme coin related to the president.It was originally just a niche community experiment, but now it has become a financial force that cannot be ignored.
It’s not just speculation.In November 2024, Meme coins accounted for 65% of the total trading volume of Raydium, a record high.Once seen as an internet gimmick, these assets have become cultural engines for cryptocurrencies.This phenomenon presents a minor identity crisis for believers and skeptics who need to reconsider their position.
Whether it is seen as the next retail-driven market movement or the unsustainable fanaticism, one thing is clear: Meme coins are no longer a joke.
Meme coins are more than speculation
Essentially, Meme thrives on community beliefs.The value of traditional financial assets comes from utility, institutional adoption or income model.Meme, by contrast, is driven by social engagement, virality and collective motivation.
This makes them one of the most effective introductory tools for retail investors in cryptocurrency.Memecoin removes the complexity of blockchain technology, making digital assets approachable, familiar and culturally relevant.For many, they are the first step into Web3, opening the door to decentralized transactions, governance and finance.
However, factors that make them easy to access also make them unstable.The same market mechanism that allowed Memes to soar to a $1 billion valuation overnight could easily lead to their collapse in a few days.While a trader might turn $66 into $3 million in profits, when the hype fades, thousands of other traders end up holding worthless tokens.
No one can ignore the volatility problem
The numbers say it all.When Elon Musk changed his X username and profile picture, the market value of memes related to him soared to $380 million.Once Musk reverses these changes, the token plunges to $100 million and then plunges further.
This is no exception.This is the real situation in the meme market.It is unpredictable, profit-oriented and driven by speculation.While some traders thrive in this environment, most traders do not.Skeptics believe that meme is nothing more than a casino with blockchain—a game where few people win and most people lose.
Totally ignoring meme ignores the bigger reality.No matter the skepticism, meme will not disappear.They are shaping market trends.The real question is: Can meme change from speculation driven by hype to structured financial assets with governance and long-term?
Governance is the key to long-term survival
If meme is to go beyond short-term trading cycles, governance must take center stage.Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) provides a model that allows holders to shape the supply of tokens, enhance transparency and influence project direction, giving meme a real opportunity to achieve sustainable development.
This structure prevents centralized control of developers and whales, thereby reducing the risk of insider manipulation, exit scams, and gouging and selling plans.It also ensures that meme can integrate fund management, equity incentives and token supply models to promote long-term viability rather than short-term speculation.
A classic example is Floki Inu (FLOKI), a meme that successfully constructs a functional ecosystem beyond meme-driven transactions.Instead of relying on short-term speculation, Floki Inu integrates non-fungible tokens (NFT) gaming, payments and education programs, proving meme can evolve into a structured, community-driven asset.
Memes don’t need to give up on their cultural origins, but to survive outside the current hype cycle, they must adopt governance mechanisms that promote economic sustainability.
Meme is at a crossroads
Meme divides the cryptocurrency sector into two extreme camps.On the one hand, Meme extremists insist that this bull market will be dominated by Meme, who believe that faith and virality alone are enough to sustain Meme.Skeptics, on the other hand, ignore Memes completely, believing they are scams of stock price gouging and selling, and end up failing.
Both of these views ignore the larger picture.Memes have proven their ability to drive market activity, but the risk of ignoring them is as reckless as directly denying them.The real challenge is not whether meme should exist.They already exist.The question is how to build them to ensure investors’ safety, market stability and long-term credibility of the industry.
Builders, regulators and communities must work together to balance decentralized and responsible governance.Ignoring meme is short-sighted as a cutscene trend.The risks of not addressing them could be worse – potentially leading to a catastrophic collapse that undermines public trust in the entire cryptocurrency.
Meme will continue to exist.The real test is whether they will continue to be speculative roller coasters or will develop into a legitimate digital economy sector.The answer lies not only in traders, but also in the builders, developers and policy makers who shape the future of blockchain.
