Memecoins in the Cryptocurrency World: From Dogecoin to Political Tokens — The Complete Beginner's Guide

Meme coins have taken over the cryptocurrency landscape, becoming a cultural phenomenon that combines internet humor with financial technology. These digital assets, originating from popular memes and viral trends, have attracted millions of investors and created a new category of speculative instruments. From the humble start of Dogecoin in 2013 to the recent surge of political meme coins in 2024-2025, this niche segment of the crypto market demonstrates resilience and a community willing to experiment.

Key Takeaways on Meme Coins

• Definition: Meme coins are cryptocurrencies inspired by internet culture, gaining value through community activity rather than technical functionality.
• Market Leader: Dogecoin reached a market cap of $23.90B at a price of $0.14.
• Popular Meme Coins: Shiba Inu (SHIB) with a market cap of $2.59B, Pepe (PEPE) with a market cap of $1.08B, priced at $5.38$Trump , (market cap $81.87M), Bonk $Melania BONK( with a market cap of $967.51M, Just a chill guy )CHILLGUY( with a market cap of $23.55M.
• Volatility: A standard characteristic — some meme coins lose 90-95% of their value within days or weeks.
• Ease of Creation: Meme coins can be created on Solana or Ethereum without programming skills.
• Regulatory Status: In the US, typical meme coins are not classified as securities, but restrictions apply in other countries.
• Investment Risks: High potential returns are balanced by significant risks of fraud, low utility, and extreme volatility.

What is a Meme Coin? Main Features and Definition

A meme coin is a type of cryptocurrency rooted in internet culture and popular trends. Unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum, focused on solving technical problems, meme coins derive their value primarily from social interaction, community attachment, and speculative trading.

Characteristics of Meme Coins:

1. Cultural Basis — They are based on popular internet memes, creating a sense of belonging to a humorous movement and allowing participants to be part of an evolving trend.
2. Community-Oriented — Active, often humorous groups of like-minded individuals form around them, united by shared identity and enthusiasm.
3. Minimal Utility — Most meme coins are designed solely for trading and conversion, without integration into services or decentralized applications.
4. High Volatility — Prices fluctuate sharply depending on social trends and activity of well-known personalities.
5. Social Media Dependence — Their value often changes under the influence of posts by influencers or viral trends.

The term is sometimes used synonymously with “shitcoin” for cryptocurrencies of dubious value, but some meme coins have proven capable of reaching billion-dollar market caps.

Development History and Evolution of Meme Coins

The history of meme coins began at the end of 2013 with the launch of Dogecoin in 2014, created as a joke based on the popular “Doge” meme. This project sparked a movement, and by October 2021, 124 meme coins were in circulation.

Key Milestones:

Appearance of Dogecoin )2013-2014( — the first meme coin, actively supported by Elon Musk since 2021, became one of the top 10 cryptocurrencies with a maximum cap of )billion.

Influence of Famous Personalities (2021-2022) — Musk’s tweets about Dogecoin, including phrases like “people’s cryptocurrency” and simply “Doge,” significantly affected trading volumes and prices.

Regulatory Actions $62 2021( — some countries began considering meme coins as unregulated financial products; Thailand banned them as part of a crackdown on assets without clear purpose.

Political Resurgence )2024-2025( — after the US presidential elections in 2024, there was a surge of political meme coins. Examples include coins with valuations briefly exceeding )billion. The President of the Central African Republic announced a national meme coin, though it lost 95% of its value within a day of trading start. The President of Argentina also launched his own political meme coin in February 2025.

How Meme Coins Work

Meme coins operate on blockchain technology, enabling decentralized and secure transactions. Users can buy, hold, and trade them on various platforms, with their value determined by supply and demand.

Main Mechanisms:

Blockchain Infrastructure — Solana and Ethereum were the most popular networks for creating meme coins in 2024 due to low fees and ease of use.

Token Creation — a standard process with no specific functions beyond trading; daily trading volumes of meme coins exceeded (billion in early 2025.

Community Mobilization — their uniqueness lies in the ability to create viral marketing campaigns that boost popularity through fan activity.

Diversity of Blockchains — different networks support different ecosystems, affecting fees, speed, and accessible audiences.

Meme coins usually lack intrinsic value, relying instead on faith, hype, and speculation. They are purely convertible assets without functional utility within their ecosystems.

Popular Meme Coins in the Current Market

**Dogecoin )DOGE$2 ** — the original meme coin, started as a joke but achieved significant asset status. Current price: $0.14, market cap: $23.90B. In November 2024, Trump announced the creation of the Department of State Efficiency under the abbreviation DOGE, further boosting its significance.

Shiba Inu $6 SHIB( — introduced in August 2020 as “Dogecoin killer,” built on Ethereum blockchain, allowing smart contracts and DeFi features.

Pepe )PEPE( — relaunched in 2023 based on the “Pepe frog” internet meme. Current market cap: $2.59B. Quickly became a serious digital asset.

$Trump — officially announced three days before the second inauguration. The next day, its market cap reached $1.08B )price $5.38(, with Trump’s companies holding assets worth )billion. By February 2025, some investors suffered losses of (billion due to price drops.

$Melania — launched by Trump’s wife on January 19, 2025, lost 90% of its value by February 6. Current market cap: $81.87M.

**Bonk )BONK$20 ** — a relatively new meme coin from 2022, popular in the Solana community. Market cap: $967.51M. Its integration into decentralized apps gives it real utility.

Just a chill guy $2 CHILLGUY( — emerged from a viral internet meme in early 2025. Current market cap: $23.55M. Attracts attention with a community-focused approach.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Investing in Meme Coins

Pros:

• High profit potential — viral meme coins can reach billion-dollar caps within days.
• Community engagement — active communities offer learning opportunities.
• Low entry barrier — often cheaper than major cryptocurrencies.
• Educational value — helps understand blockchain and crypto markets.
• Trading opportunities — short-term price swings provide trading windows.

Cons:

• Extreme volatility — prices can drop 90-95% within days.
• High fraud risk — market filled with rug pulls and abandoned projects.
• Lack of utility — most serve only for trading.
• Low liquidity — less popular meme coins are hard to sell without impacting the price.
• Regulatory uncertainty — although the US does not classify typical meme coins as securities, positions may change.

How to Create Your Own Meme Coin

Creating a meme coin has become accessible to everyone thanks to automated tools.

Requirements:

• Cryptocurrency wallet
• Small amount of crypto to pay fees )usually low(
• No programming skills needed

Step-by-step process:

1. Connect your wallet to the token creation platform.
2. Ensure you have enough crypto for fees.
3. Choose a token name.
4. Set symbol and decimal places.
5. Define total supply.
6. Upload logo image )PNG format(.
7. Write a description, including social media and website.
8. Select the “meme coin” tag.
9. Complete creation and confirm transaction.

Platform choices:

Solana and Ethereum are most popular. Between January 2024 and January 2025, over 5.3 million meme coins were launched on Pump.fun — about 15,229 per day.

Marketing and community:

• Create an attractive website
• Launch social media accounts
• Participate in crypto forums
• Conduct airdrops to generate initial interest
• Clearly explain project goals

Legal considerations:

• In the US, typical meme coins are not considered securities )as of February 2025(.
• Fraudulent schemes may be prosecuted under other federal laws.
• Research local regulations before launching.

How to Buy Meme Coins: Practical Guide

Step 1: Register on a crypto exchange

Create an account on a platform supporting your meme coins. Complete KYC verification.

Step 2: Choose funding method

• Credit/debit cards )Visa, Mastercard( — easiest way
• P2P trading
• Bank transfers via SEPA or local methods
• Third-party payment services

Step 3: Proceed to spot trading

After depositing funds, go to the spot trading section.

Order types:

• Limit — set your desired price
• Market — buy immediately at current price
• Stop-limit — automatic placement at trigger price
• OCO — one cancels other orders

Step 4: Complete purchase

Select meme coin, enter amount, confirm transaction.

Step 5: Manage assets

• Store on exchange
• Transfer to personal wallet
• Trade for other assets
• Use for staking where available

Security tips:

• Use strong, unique passwords
• Enable two-factor authentication
• Transfer large sums to secure cold wallets
• Invest only what you can afford to lose
• Research each project thoroughly before investing

The Future of Meme Coins: Trends and Forecasts

The future of meme coins remains a topic of active discussion in the crypto community.

Expected trends:

Celebrity-driven tokens — success of political and personal meme coins indicates a trend toward personal tokens.

Government adoption — examples of national meme coins may lead to experiments by governments.

Institutional interest — in January 2025, US asset managers planned to launch ETF funds investing in meme coins despite skepticism.

Regulatory framework:

• In the US, typical meme coins are not considered securities as their value is driven by demand, not utility.
• Thailand enforces a complete ban.
• The UK is increasing oversight of meme coin marketing.
• More precise regulatory frameworks are expected to develop.

Possible directions:

• Enhanced functionality — integration with games, social platforms.
• Practical applications — adding real utility beyond speculation.
• Technological improvements — security and scalability features.

Some commentators compare the current meme coin boom to the NFT market crash of 2022, emphasizing the lack of practical purpose beyond trading.

Frequently Asked Questions about Meme Coins

What is a meme coin?
A cryptocurrency inspired by internet memes or humor, gaining value through community and speculation rather than technical utility.

How to buy meme coins?
Register on a crypto exchange, verify identity, deposit funds, go to spot trading, select a meme coin, and complete the purchase.

Where to buy meme coins?
Available on major crypto exchanges. New releases may only be on decentralized platforms.

How to create a meme coin?
Use automated tools on Solana or Ethereum: connect your wallet, set parameters )name, symbol, amount(, upload logo, pay fee.

What is Trump meme coin?
A political meme coin )$Trump(, launched before the second inauguration, briefly reaching $1.08B market cap, then falling in price.

Is Solana a meme coin?
No, Solana is a blockchain platform on which meme coins are built.

Which meme coin will explode in 2025?
We do not provide specific predictions.

Difference between a meme coin and a cryptocurrency?
Meme coins are a subset of cryptocurrencies, distinguished by lack of technical utility and social focus.

Is Dogecoin a meme coin?
Yes, Dogecoin is one of the original and most successful meme coins, with a market cap of $23.90B.

Is XRP a meme coin?
No, XRP is the native currency of the XRP Ledger payment system.

Why do people buy meme coins?
Potential for high returns, community involvement, low entry barriers, educational value, and excitement from trending.

Final Thoughts

Meme coins are a unique phenomenon in the crypto ecosystem, blending internet culture with digital finance. From Dogecoin to political tokens of 2024-2025, they demonstrate the ability to attract attention and reach impressive valuations despite their humorous origins.

The main driver of meme coins is community energy, not technological innovation. They exhibit high volatility, significant potential gains, and correspondingly high risks.

For investors considering participation, key principles remain: thorough research, risk management, and investing only what they can afford to lose. As regulation develops and markets mature, meme coins may find new uses and utility.

Engaging with meme coins requires understanding market mechanisms, community dynamics, and readiness for extreme volatility. Start by studying established projects and gradually expanding knowledge of this evolving sector.