The Meme Coin Market in 2025: Trust, Community, and the End of Hype

The Meme Coin Market in 2025: Trust, Community, and the End of Hype

The meme coin market, once a wild frontier of viral trends and overnight millionaires, has entered a new phase. What began as a playful experiment with coins like Dogecoin has morphed into a $60 billion ecosystem in 2024. Yet, this growth comes with a catch: saturation is reshaping the rules of the game. I’ve watched the pendulum swing from unchecked hype to a more discerning market where trust and community are the new currencies of success. Let’s unpack this evolution and what it means for investors and developers alike.

The Saturation Dilemma: A Market at a Crossroads

The numbers tell a compelling story. BDC Consulting’s 2024 report highlighted a staggering 169% increase in the meme coin market cap, reaching $60 billion by year-end. This surge, driven by the likes of Dogecoin ($35.91 billion), Shiba Inu ($8.97 billion), and newer entrants like PEPE ($6.12 billion), reflects a flood of tokens vying for attention. Coinmarketcap’s latest rankings, updated in June 2025, underscore this dominance, with established coins overshadowing the thousands of micro-projects launched on platforms like Solana and Ethereum. But here’s the rub: this oversaturation has fragmented liquidity and investor focus.

In practical terms, shared liquidity across projects means that the capital pool, once concentrated on a few breakout stars, is now spread thin. Based on what I have observed from the Raydium’s liquidity pools, a popular decentralized exchange on Solana, suggests that liquidity often constitutes just 20-40% of a coin’s market cap. With so many tokens competing, even this cushion is eroding, leading to diminished returns. I recall the days when a coin like Pepe could skyrocket 7,000% in 17 days, as noted in an article on The Straits Times Singapore in November 2024. Today, such explosive gains are rare, and investors are left chasing 1.5x returns on high-risk bets, a far cry from the 10x or 100x promises of yesteryear.

This saturation forces a reckoning. The market is no longer forgiving of projects that rely solely on a catchy meme or a fleeting viral moment. Instead, it demands substance, and that substance begins with trust, a concept I believe will define the meme coin narrative for the foreseeable future.

Trust as the Cornerstone of Success

Trust has emerged as the linchpin in this crowded market, a shift rooted in human psychology and market maturity. When individuals risk their savings on a meme coin, they’re not just betting on a joke. They’re investing in a belief system. This belief hinges on transparency, accountability, and a sense of ownership, elements that sustain projects through inevitable downturns. Take CAPTAINBNB, for instance, a coin that has garnered attention for its 100% circulating supply and renounced contracts, as highlighted in recent X discussions. Such moves signal to investors that the project isn’t a rug pull waiting to happen, fostering a loyalty that hype alone can’t replicate.

This perspective aligns with insights from industry observers, who argue that community-driven transparency, think regular AMAs (Ask Me Anything sessions) or open development roadmaps builds resilience. I’ve seen this play out firsthand with coins that weathered the 2024 bear market by keeping their communities engaged, contrasting sharply with projects that vanished after their initial pump. I believe that trending tokens emphasizes social engagement and holder growth as key indicators, suggesting that trust is quantifiable in the form of active, committed communities.

Yet, building trust is no small feat. Many developers still cling to the old playbook, launching with a meme, a charismatic figurehead, and a promise of riches. This approach, while effective in 2023 and early 2024, is losing its luster. The market has matured, and investors are asking harder questions: Who’s behind this? What’s the long-term vision? Without answers grounded in integrity, even the best memes fizzle out.

The Declining Power of Key Opinion Leaders

This brings us to the contentious role of influencers or Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), a topic that stirs debate in every crypto corner. For years, KOLs, think Twitter influencers with tens of thousands of followers, have been the rocket fuel for meme coin launches. A single endorsement could send a token from obscurity to a $10 million market cap overnight. But as of 2025, their influence is under scrutiny, and for good reason. This is also echoed in several panels that I have spoken on with Cointelegraph events.

I dare say that more than 60% of KOL-backed projects see initial pumps, 50% crash due to credibility issues and 90% of them failed to survive through a period of 2 months. I’ve witnessed this pattern myself: a KOL with a track record of rug pulls or failed calls promotes a new coin, only for the community to balk when the inevitable dip hits. There are also KOLs with 1 million followers, yet they fail to get the token to more than $800K in market cap. Why buy the dip if the KOL’s past projects never recovered? This skepticism is palpable on platforms like X, where users increasingly call out “clown” influencers whose hype doesn’t match their results.

I urge investors to look beyond paid promotions and conduct due diligence. The market’s memory is long, and a KOL’s history can cap a coin’s potential. Imagine a project reaching $5 million, only to stall at $10 million because profit-takers flee, spooked by the promoter’s tainted reputation. The result? A promising narrative dies, not for lack of community support, but for lack of trust in the messenger. This trend suggests that the KOL model, once a shortcut to success, is becoming an anchor dragging projects down. To be honest, the $5m, $10m is just an example, in reality most of them failed to even reach $1m market cap.

The Rise of Community and Utility

If KOLs are losing their grip, who or what will lead meme coins into the future? The answer lies in communities and utility, two forces that, when combined, create a foundation for lasting value. Shiba Inu’s evolution offers a case study. Beyond its meme origins, the project has expanded into ShibaSwap and Shibarium, a layer-2 solution that enhances transaction efficiency. This utility, coupled with a passionate community, has kept it relevant.

Similarly, Pepe Coin has thrived by leveraging community-driven initiatives and strategic partnerships, blurring the line between meme coin and utility token. Coins like Shiba Inu and Pepe stand out due to their ecosystems, suggesting that utility, whether in DeFi, gaming, or decentralized governance, adds a layer of legitimacy. I’ve observed this firsthand: projects integrating practical applications tend to attract a different caliber of investor, one less swayed by hype and more interested in long-term potential.

A couple of projects have pivoted to a Web3 super app that empowers community governance and creator monetization. This approach moves beyond the meme, offering a platform where users can organize and thrive. It’s a model that echoes the DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) structures gaining traction in 2025, where token holders vote on development paths. This shift from top-down promotion to bottom-up participation is, in my view, the future of meme coins.

The Role of Trading Bots and Market Manipulation

No discussion of 2025’s meme coin market would be complete without addressing trading bots, particularly sniper bots. These automated tools, capable of executing trades in milliseconds, have become a double-edged sword. Their prevalence on decentralized exchanges (DEXs), where they exploit new token listings to front-run retail investors is a big problem. I’ve seen this play out: a coin launches, bots snap up supply, and prices spike artificially before crashing, leaving latecomers with losses.

This dynamic can distort market signals, but projects are fighting back. Time-locked liquidity pools and anti-bot mechanisms during launches are becoming standard, aiming to level the playing field. While not foolproof, these measures suggest a market adapting to technological challenges, a sign of maturity that could benefit legitimate projects in the long run.

Regulatory Horizons and the Road Ahead

Looking ahead, regulatory developments will shape meme coin trajectories. The U.S. Bitcoin Act, passed in early 2025, and the allowance of banks to custody crypto, signal a more structured environment. This could impose KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) requirements, challenging some meme coin projects that thrive on anonymity. Yet, it also opens the door to institutional investment, potentially legitimizing the space and paving the way for meme coin ETFs, a possibility I’ve speculated on with colleagues.

This regulatory push may bifurcate the market. Established coins like Dogecoin, with their proven track records, will coexist with innovative, utility-focused projects. The challenge for developers will be balancing compliance with the anarchic spirit that birthed meme coins. For investors, it means a need for sharper analysis, moving beyond memes to assess fundamentals like team credibility and technological innovation.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

As I reflect on the meme coin market in 2025, one truth stands out: the era of hype is giving way to an era of trust. Saturation has forced a reset, pushing projects to prioritize transparency, community engagement, and utility over viral gimmicks. KOLs, once kingmakers, are losing relevance as investors demand substance. Trading bots and regulatory shifts add complexity, but they also signal a maturing ecosystem where the best ideas can rise.

For those in this space, whether developers building the next big coin or investors seeking the next big win, the message is clear: focus on what endures. Build communities that grind alongside you, integrate utility that adds value, and let trust be your north star. The market won’t forgive shortcuts, but it will reward vision. So, I ask you: What’s your trust metric for a meme coin? Is it the community’s voice, the project’s roadmap, or the utility it offers? Share your thoughts. I’m eager to hear how you’re navigating this evolving landscape.

“TRUST IS THE NEW HYPE.” – Anndy Lian

 

Source: https://news.shib.io/2025/07/13/the-meme-coin-market-in-2025-trust-community-and-the-end-of-hype

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

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From Meme to Meaning: How Trust Replaced Hype in the $60 Billion Token Market

From Meme to Meaning: How Trust Replaced Hype in the $60 Billion Token Market

The memecoin market, once the playground of viral trends and overnight riches, is entering a new phase. In 2024, it ballooned into a $60 billion ecosystem, according to BDC Consulting—a 169% surge driven by coins like Dogecoin, valued at $35.91 billion, Shiba Inu at $8.97 billion, and PEPE at $6.12 billion. But this explosion has brought saturation. Thousands of tokens now flood platforms like Ethereum and Solana, fragmenting liquidity and thinning investor focus.

From what I’ve observed on Raydium’s liquidity pools, coins often hold only 20–40% of their market cap in liquidity. That leaves little margin for volatile assets. Gone are the days of 7,000% rallies like Pepe’s 17-day sprint in late 2024. Today, most investors are chasing 1.5x returns with significantly higher risk.

The Shift Toward Trust

This crowded market has sharpened investor expectations. No longer will a meme and a mascot suffice. The winning tokens now build trust—through transparency, accountability, and community engagement.

CAPTAINBNB is one such example. Its 100% circulating supply and renounced contracts signalled integrity, helping it build a loyal base. This kind of trust—backed by open AMAs, clear roadmaps, and genuine developer commitment—often sustains projects through downturns. In contrast, countless memecoins launched with fanfare in 2023–24 are now abandoned, unable to survive a single market dip.

The Decline of Influencer Power

Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) once ruled the memecoin narrative. A tweet from a prominent name could spike a market cap to $10 million overnight. But by 2025, skepticism has caught up. From my experience speaking at Cointelegraph panels and watching the market closely, over 60% of KOL-backed coins pump briefly before collapsing. Most fail to sustain a $1 million market cap, let alone deliver returns.

Communities are growing wary. Past failures of influencers are haunting new launches. On platforms like X, followers openly question the motives of “clown” promoters. Even those with a million followers struggle to raise momentum if their track record is marred by rugs or failed projects.

In short, the influencer model is no longer a guarantee. In many cases, it’s a liability

Utility and Community: The New Edge

Where hype is fading, utility and grassroots support are taking its place. Shiba Inu’s transformation offers a blueprint—evolving into a broader ecosystem with ShibaSwap and Shibarium, giving holders reasons to stay beyond the meme.

PEPE has also built around partnerships and community-led initiatives. These projects prove that even memecoins can benefit from real use cases in DeFi, gaming, or DAOs. Investors are noticing. Communities that offer governance, creator monetization, or Web3 tooling are starting to attract more serious participants.

Some projects are pivoting to super app models that empower user decisions and foster participation. This bottom-up governance reflects a maturing memecoin scene, where communities are not just holders but stakeholders.

Bots and Market Integrity

Another challenge in 2025 is the rise of trading bots—particularly sniper bots—on decentralized exchanges. These tools manipulate launches, grabbing tokens before retail traders can react, inflating prices artificially before dumping them.

I’ve seen launches where bots scoop up early supply, cause brief spikes, and leave latecomers holding the bag. In response, projects are now deploying anti-bot tools and locking liquidity to protect early investors. While not foolproof, these developments show that the space is adapting, prioritizing fairness and sustainability.

Regulatory Changes on the Horizon

The regulatory backdrop is shifting too. With the U.S. Bitcoin Act and banks now allowed to custody crypto, a more structured environment is emerging. This could bring KYC and AML obligations to memecoins—difficult for anonymous teams, but appealing for institutional entry.

While some tokens may not survive this scrutiny, others could flourish. The prospect of memecoin ETFs or regulated products isn’t far-fetched. But to succeed, projects will need more than clever marketing—they’ll need transparency, compliance, and vision.

The Trust Era Begins

In 2025, memecoins are at a crossroads. The frenzy of 10x gains is waning. Saturation has forced investors and developers to recalibrate. What remains is a landscape where trust, not trend, determines success.

KOLs can no longer drive sustained growth. Trading bots pose structural threats. Regulation is tightening. And in this complex terrain, the only lasting edge is a community built on truth, purpose, and utility.

To developers: build with transparency, plan for the long haul, and invite your community in. To investors: do your due diligence, question hype, and look for teams that show up every day.

Ask yourself: What’s your trust metric in a memecoin? Is it contract renouncement, team visibility, roadmap clarity, or community voice? Whatever it is, let that guide your decisions. The market no longer rewards shortcuts—but it still honors conviction.

 

Source: https://www.financemagnates.com/cryptocurrency/from-meme-to-meaning-how-trust-replaced-hype-in-the-60-billion-token-market/

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

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Crypto Meme Magic: The Intersection of Meme IP and Investment Opportunities

Crypto Meme Magic: The Intersection of Meme IP and Investment Opportunities

The MemeX Festival, held on February 18, 2025, during Consensus HK 2025, brought together blockchain enthusiasts, investors, and meme lovers to explore the fascinating intersection of meme intellectual property (IP) and investment opportunities. Hosted by MemeCore, a leading EVM-based Layer 1 blockchain, the event aimed to bridge Web2 and Web3 projects, enhance brand visibility, and solidify MemeCore’s position as a hub for meme-related initiatives. With over 2,000 registrations, the festival was a landmark event for the blockchain and meme communities.

One of the highlights of the festival was the panel discussion titled “Crypto Meme Magic: The Intersection of Meme IP and Investment Opportunities.” Moderated by Anndy Lian, Managing Director of MemeCore and a best-selling author, the panel featured industry leaders who shared their insights on the role of memes in the blockchain ecosystem. The panelists included Thomas Kay (Head of International Business, WEEX Global), Christian Oertel (Global Expansion Lead, Conflux Network), Larry Lundy (Chief Business Officer, Hashpower X), and Tasso Lago (Founder, Financial Move).


The Power of Memes in Crypto

Anndy Lian opened the discussion by emphasizing the unique role memes play in the crypto space. “I’m quite a meme advocate,” he said. “Not because I love the graphics, but because I love the community behind it.” This sentiment set the tone for the panel, highlighting how memes are more than just humorous images—they are powerful abilities for community building and engagement.

Thomas Kay, representing WEEX Global, echoed this view, stating, “Meme is the main retention ability in the crypto space right now. It’s one of the easiest ways for new users from Web2 to enter Web3.” He pointed out that memes are not just about entertainment; they are a gateway for onboarding new users into the blockchain ecosystem. “It’s inevitable that memes will continue to be one of the biggest drivers in the future,” he added.

Christian Oertel of Conflux Network admitted that he was initially skeptical about memes. “A couple of years back, I didn’t believe in memes,” he said. “We were working on Layer 1 blockchain scalability, changing the world, and then someone launched a meme with no fundamentals.” However, his perspective shifted as he realized the potential of memes to attract retail users and foster community engagement. “Memes are the best entry point into the Web3 world,” he concluded.


Memes as Cultural and Economic Drivers

Larry Lundy, Chief Business Officer at Hashpower X, took a broader view, describing memes as cultural integrators and economic enablers. “Memes are the highway,” he said. “They lower the barrier of entry by providing a safe and fun environment.” He highlighted the historical significance of meme tokens like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu, which have not only driven liquidity in the crypto market but also created a cultural phenomenon. “Without meme tokens, we wouldn’t have the large influx of liquidity in Web3 and DeFi,” he explained.

Lundy also emphasized the emotional connection that memes create. “The driving motivation for investment in memes is emotional,” he said. “People invest because they like it, and that emotional attachment creates a strong community.” He likened memes to collectible items like baseball cards and comic books, where value is determined by community perception.

Tasso Lago, a prominent crypto influencer and angel investor from Brazil, shared a similar perspective. “At first, I didn’t like memes because there was no utility,” he admitted. “But now I see that memes can build communities and evolve into businesses.” He cited Shiba Inu as an example of a meme token that has successfully built an ecosystem and engaged with new projects and features. “Memes drive users,” he said. “They are the pillar of growth in crypto.”


The Role of IP in Meme Coins

The discussion also touched on the potential of meme IP to create lasting value. Anndy Lian noted that meme IP is becoming increasingly attractive as a business model. “When you talk about IP, it’s very generic right now,” he said. “But if you look at the great grandfather of meme coins, it would be Dogecoin.” He suggested that meme IP could be a powerful ability for branding and community building.

Christian Oertel highlighted the challenges and opportunities of integrating meme IP into blockchain networks. “From Conflux’s perspective, we’re working with IPs like McDonald’s in China, but the restriction is that you can only do NFTs,” he explained. Despite these limitations, he expressed optimism about the future of meme IP, citing examples like Pudgy Penguins and Doodles, which have successfully created IP through NFTs and token drops.

Thomas Kay added that meme IP is a significant driver of user engagement. “The beauty of IP is that it’s so recognizable,” he said. “It’s easy for people to look at one of your projects and immediately know it’s you.” He shared data from WEEX Global, showing that Trump Coin, a meme token, had a massive impact on user activity. “On the day Trump Coin launched, user activity tripled, and trading volume increased tenfold,” he revealed.


Investment Strategies in Meme Coins

When it comes to investing in meme coins, the panelists shared diverse strategies. Tasso Lago emphasized the importance of community and ecosystem development. “When I look at a meme to invest in, I first look at the charts,” he said. “Then I try to understand if the meme is building an ecosystem.” He praised Shiba Inu for its efforts to engage with new projects and features, calling it a good example of a meme token with long-term potential.

Larry Lundy highlighted the versatility of meme tokens like Dogecoin, which is built on Litecoin’s infrastructure and operates as a minable commodity. “Doge is one of the original proof-of-work minables,” he said. “It provides a victimless environment for liquidity entry and exit.” He also pointed out that the emotional appeal of memes makes them a unique investment opportunity. “Memes are culture, and memes are business,” he concluded.


The Future of Memes in Web3

As the panel discussion drew to a close, the speakers reflected on the future of memes in the Web3 space. Christian Oertel described memes as a social phenomenon that brings people together. “You get the full cycle of emotions and share it with thousands of people you don’t know,” he said. “There’s something mystical about it.”

Thomas Kay emphasized the role of memes as community drivers. “In the whole crypto space right now, the most activity happens in the meme community,” he said. “It’s one of the main drivers for growth and engagement.”

Anndy Lian concluded the session by reiterating the importance of memes in the blockchain ecosystem. “Meme is one of the main pillars in the Web3 space,” he said. “It’s a good door opener and the biggest community driver.”


Final Thoughts

The Crypto Meme Magic panel at the MemeX Festival showcased the transformative power of memes in the blockchain ecosystem. From onboarding new users to driving liquidity and fostering community engagement, memes have become a cornerstone of the Web3 space. As the panelists highlighted, the future of memes lies in their ability to evolve into ecosystems, create lasting IP, and bridge the gap between Web2 and Web3. With their unique blend of humor, culture, and investment potential, memes are poised to remain a driving force in the crypto world.

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

j j j