Memecoins—from internet jokes to crypto’s cultural engine

Opinion by: Sasha Ivanov, founder of Waves and Units.Network

Not long ago, the idea that an internet joke could become a multibillion-dollar asset class seemed laughable. Today, memecoins are not just mainstream. They are reshaping entire market cycles. The US now has an official memecoin associated with the president. What started as a niche community experiment has become a financial force too big to ignore.

This isn’t simply speculation. In November 2024, memecoins accounted for 65% of the total trading volume on the decentralized exchange Raydium, an all-time high. Once dismissed as internet gimmicks, these assets have become crypto’s cultural engine. This phenomenon has been causing a slight identity crisis for believers and skeptics, who need to rethink their positions. 

Whether viewed as the next retail-driven market movement or an unsustainable mania, one thing is clear: Memecoins are no longer a joke.

Memecoins are more than speculation

At their core, memecoins thrive on community belief. Traditional financial assets derive value from utility, institutional adoption or revenue models. Memecoins, by contrast, are driven by social engagement, virality and the power of collective momentum.

That makes them one of the most effective onboarding tools for retail investors in crypto. Memecoins strip away 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 trading, governance and finance.

What makes them accessible, however, also makes them volatile. The same market mechanics that send memecoins soaring to billion-dollar valuations overnight can just as easily cause them to collapse within days. While one trader might turn $66 into a $3 million profit, thousands of others end up holding worthless tokens when the hype fades.

The volatility problem no one can ignore

The numbers tell the story. When Elon Musk changed his X username and profile picture, a memecoin linked to him skyrocketed to a $380 million market cap. Once Musk reversed the changes, the coin plunged to $100 million before plummeting even further.

Recent: ‘Memecoins are archetypes of the collective unconscious’

This is not an exception. This is the memecoin market in action. It is unpredictable, profit-driven and fueled by speculation. While some traders thrive in this environment, most do not. The skeptics argue that memecoins are little more than a casino with a blockchain — a game where few win and most lose.

Dismissing memecoins outright ignores a larger reality. Memecoins aren’t going away, regardless of the skepticism. They are shaping market trends. The real question is: Can memecoins transition from hype-driven speculation to a structured financial asset with governance and longevity?

Governance is the key to long-term survival

If memecoins are to evolve beyond short-term trading cycles, governance must take center stage. Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) offer a model that allows holders to shape token supply, enforce transparency and influence project direction to give memecoins a real shot at sustainability.

This structure prevents centralized control by developers and whales, reducing the risk of insider manipulation, exit scams and pump-and-dump schemes. It also ensures that memecoins can integrate treasury management, staking incentives and token supply models that promote long-term viability rather than short-lived speculation.

A prime example is Floki Inu (FLOKI), a memecoin that successfully built a functional ecosystem beyond meme-driven trading. Rather than relying on short-term speculation, Floki Inu integrated non-fungible token (NFT) gaming, payments and educational initiatives, proving that memecoins can evolve into structured, community-driven assets.

Memecoins don’t need to abandon their cultural origins, but to survive beyond the current hype cycle, they must adopt governance mechanisms that promote economic sustainability.

Memecoins are at a crossroads

Memecoins have divided the crypto space into two extreme camps. On one side, memecoin maximalists insist that this bull market will be dominated by memecoins, arguing that belief and virality alone are enough to sustain them. On the other, skeptics dismiss them entirely, viewing them as pump-and-dump schemes that will eventually implode.