Opinion 
March 17, 2025 
7 min. 
In 2025, the crypto world is buzzing again with the sound of memecoin—those quirky, often silly digital currencies that defy logic yet keep grabbing headlines. From Dogecoin’s Shiba Inu mascot to Pepe the Frog’s wild ride, memecoin is back in a big way, sparking debates about its value and cultural clout. Is it a passing fad or a sign of something deeper?
Key takeaways
- Memecoins are back big in 2025, driving debate over their value and purpose.
- Memecoins like Dogecoin and Pepe thrive on humour, hype, and community, not tech breakthroughs.
- They are highly volatile, often soaring in value due to viral moments and crashing just as fast.
- Bitcoin and serious cryptos grow slowly, solving real-world problems, while memecoins offer risky, fast gains.
What is a memecoin?
A memecoin is a type of cryptocurrency born from internet jokes, memes, or viral trends. Unlike Bitcoin, built as a serious store of value, or Ethereum, designed for smart contracts, memecoins start with humour or community spirit.
Dogecoin, launched in 2013 by Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer, as a parody, is the granddaddy of them all. Fast forward to 2025, and we have got a growing meme coins list: Shiba Inu, Pepe, WIF, FLOKI, Bonk, and more. They are not tied to complex tech breakthroughs but thrive on social media hype and loyal fans.
What is a memecoin used for?
At first, not much, Dogecoin was a playful jab at crypto’s seriousness. But over time, uses emerged. Today, some memecoins power real payments. Dogecoin has been tipped on platforms like X for years. Others, like Shiba Inu, have dipped into decentralised finance (DeFi), letting users stake or swap tokens.
Mostly, though, memecoins are about community and speculation. People buy them hoping the memecoin price will soar, driven by viral moments or celebrity tweets. For instance, in early 2021, Elon Musk’s tweet proclaiming “Dogecoin is the people’s crypto” led to a 50% surge in Dogecoin’s price.
Similarly, in November 2024, Musk’s tweet about the memecoin $WOULD resulted in a staggering 120,000% price increase within hours. An investor who had purchased $287 worth of $WOULD three months prior saw their investment balloon to $196,000 following the tweet.
Difference between memecoin and crypto
The difference between memecoins and traditional crypto comes down to purpose and risk. Bitcoin was built to solve real problems—secure digital money, cutting out banks—and its growth has been slow but steady. It took over a decade for Bitcoin to reach $50,000. Memecoins like Pepe, on the other hand, hit a $1 billion market cap in weeks, fuelled by memes, not tech.
But what rockets up can crash just as fast. Memecoins thrive on hype and community buzz. They are fun, but risky—highly volatile and often lacking real utility.
For example, in October 2024, WIF’s price fluctuated between $2.38 and $2.55, according to Binance analysis. However, by March 14, 2025, CoinMarketCap data shows it had dropped to $0.5216—a staggering decline of over 75% from its previous highs. Despite optimistic forecasts, analysts predicts WIF could reach $10 by 2030.
Serious crypto like Bitcoin tends to grow slowly with long-term potential. Memecoins offer fast gains, but they can wipe out overnight.
Memecoin resurgence in 2025
In 2025, memecoins are witnessing a dramatic resurgence, drawing in both veteran traders and fresh faces. Crypto commentator Murad Mahmudov’s “Meme Coin Supercycle” label, predicting a $1 trillion market cap.Top performers show strain. As of March 14, 2025, per CoinMarketCap: Dogecoin ($0.17, up 4.81% in 24 hours) holds steady with $1-1.5 billion daily volume. Remember this is the coin which had climbed about 25% after Musk’s 2021 tweet, from $0.52, to its record of $0.73.
Shiba Inu ($0.00001264) and Pepe ($0.000007) lag, with Pepe now trading 74.53% below it highest peak. Solana-based Dogwifhat ($0.5168) and Bonk ($0.000011) ride Solana’s ecosystem ($10 billion daily volume in November 2024), though it has faced an unexpected price correction, dropping below $195 amid heightened market volatility..
Cultural impact
Memecoins aren’t just cash grabs; they’re a cultural force. They are the punk rock of crypto. No suits, no rules—just raw energy.
They have turned trading into a game where anyone with $10 and a phone can join. Communities on X and Discord rally around them, creating a sense of belonging.
But it is not all rosy. The memecoin price prediction game is a rollercoaster. For every Dogecoin winner, there’s a dozen flops leaving investors skint. Scams plague the space too—fake coins vanish with millions yearly.
Memecoins list and standouts
The meme coins list grows daily, but a few shine. Dogecoin sits at $0.17, Shiba Inu at $0.00001252, and Pepe at $0.000007 as of March 14, 2025. Newbies like WIF show the hype’s alive.
Is Solana a memecoin?
No, Solana’s a serious blockchain, though its speed powers many memecoin trades. The variety keeps the market unpredictable, with memecoin trading volumes rivalling some “proper” coins.
What’s next?
Memecoin price prediction is tricky. Some say Dogecoin could hit high by 2026 if adoption grows; others see a crash if hype fades. They’re not replacing Bitcoin, but they’re carving a niche. As long as the internet loves a laugh, memecoins will stick around, shaking up crypto with a grin.
