According to our analysis, Bitcoin Hyper tops our list of the best meme coins to invest in 2025, followed by Maxi Doge and PEPENODE.

Bitcoin Hyper, an innovative Bitcoin Layer 2 project, has become one of the most successful crypto presales of the year with 73% raised in a short period of time. All of the projects we selected show strong momentum and viral community engagement during a period of renewed institutional interest in culture-driven crypto markets, though it’s vital to note that all such tokens are highly speculative (and thus risky) investments.

Our research-driven methodology evaluates these projects based on community strength, tokenomics structure, exchange accessibility, and ecosystem utility. We analyze presale performance, on-chain data, social sentiment, and long-term viability rather than following short-term hype cycles.

2. Maxi Doge (MAXI) — Community Focused Meme Coin with Potential Perps Partnership

Maxi Doge is a presale meme coin that positions itself as the “final form” of the Shiba Inu family tree, combining extreme fitness aesthetics with the adrenaline-fueled world of 1000x leverage trading. The project targets crypto degenerates who live on the edge of high-risk trading while embodying the relentless grind that defines bull market culture.

Maxi Doge website. Source: Maxi Doge

Currently in the early presale phase, Maxi Doge is building momentum in the crypto community with $2.41M raised in a short time. The tokenomics include daily staking rewards through smart contract distributions, community contests for top ROI hunters, and planned partner events with futures platforms. The project’s roadmap also suggests potential integrations that could allow the Maxi Doge community to leverage trade their own tokens.

Why We Picked Maxi Doge Token:

Maxi Doge sets itself apart by combining viral memes with the culture of high-leverage crypto trading, creating a unique identity in a crowded dog-themed coin space. With 25% of tokens reserved for the MAXI Fund, the project hints at potential futures platform collaborations that could enable leverage trading on MAXI itself.

Risks of Investing in Maxi Doge:

The project carries execution risk because its ambitious partnership plans rely on securing deals that aren’t yet confirmed with futures platforms. It could also face regulatory attention for promoting high-risk trading behaviors.

Editor’s Take (Filip Stojanovic): Maxi Doge has been able to capture the attention of meme coin traders well so far, but its success will likely depend on consistent growth in engagement and presale totals.

3. PEPENODE (PEPENODE) – Gamified Presale with Virtual Meme Coin Mining Mechanics

PEPENODE (PEPENODE) is a gamified token layered over a full-blown mining simulator. Users can create virtual server rooms, equip them with customizable nodes, and simulate mining in a completely gamified environment.

PEPENODE Official Website. Source: PEPENODE

Every node contributes to your mining output. Performance depends on how well you upgrade and manage your setup, not just how much you stake. With entry-level pricing, high APY for early participants, and no need for physical mining hardware, PEPENODE is positioned as a notable presale in September2025, though it remains a high-risk, speculative investment.

Why We Picked PEPENODE Token:

PEPENODE brings a new approach to DeFi with its unique virtual mining system, turning complex crypto mechanics into an interactive, rewarding experience. The system is complicated enough to make it interesting, rewarding users who upgrade and fine-tune their nodes, but it’s not so complex that it’s frustrating to navigate. With presale pricing still available, users can start building their rigs at a discount compared to the final listing price.

Risks of Investing in PEPENODE:

The core development team behind PEPENODE is largely anonymous. The information about the developers’ identities or their backgrounds is very limited online, which raises concerns about accountability. Also, while an off-chain version of the game is available, PEPENODE does not yet have a fully operational on-chain platform, which makes it difficult to assess the project’s functionality at this point.

Editor’s Take (Julia Sakovich): While PEPENODE is legitimately innovating a new kind of passive income, its tech is unproven and its anonymous team raises questions.

4. Wall Street Pepe (WEPE) — Dual-Chain Meme Coin with Exclusive Alpha Chat Trading Insights and Solana Expansion

Wall Street Pepe is a satirical digital asset that combines Wall Street culture with Pepe the Frog imagery to create a trading-focused ecosystem. Following a successful presale that raised over $70 million, the token’s price climbed from $0.0002 to $0.001, delivering a 400% gain to early investors, and positioning itself as more than just speculative entertainment.

WEPE holders gain access to the Alpha Chat trading group on Telegram and Discord, where over 1,200 active members exchange real-time trading signals, market insights, and educational content.

Snorter Presale. Source: Official Website

Why We Picked Snorter Token:

Snorter Bot is the most utility-focused project on this list, with the functionality to revolutionize any beginner trader’s toolkit. Fast token sniping and built-in scam protection can make small cap crypto trading vastly easier while reducing the risks for scams and frontrunning. The power of the trading bot, combined with the utility provided by SNORT, makes it one of the most promising meme coins around.

Risks of Investing in Snorter Bot:

While Snorter aims to offer a Telegram-based trading bot with features like automated sniping and honeypot detection, these functionalities are currently in beta testing and their reliability remains unproven at this point. Also, the team remains anonymous with no public information about token lockup or vesting schedules, raising concerns about potential insider dumping after launch.

Editor’s Take (Nadica Metuleva): Snorter Bot’s utility as a speedy, low-fee trading bot is a major selling point for the token. However, the trading bot niche is already quite robust and SNORT may have difficulty competing.

6. Dogecoin (DOGE) — The Biggest Meme Coin by Market Cap with Long-Term Growth Potential

Dogecoin, the original viral token launched in 2013, remains a top choice for crypto investors seeking exposure to the meme coin sector. Currently priced at with a market cap of $33.6 billion, it offers accessibility through mainstream platforms like Robinhood, Cash App, and Webull that operate outside traditional crypto exchanges. Some analysts predict DOGE could reach $1 in 2025, with Galaxy Digital’s head of research suggesting the “world’s largest and oldest memecoin” could touch a $100 billion market cap.

DOGE benefits from an established community of millions of holders and backing from influential figures like Elon Musk, whose tweets have historically caused 20–40% price swings. Unlike many speculative culture crypto assets, Dogecoin has demonstrated staying power over 11 years and offers relative stability compared to newer, more volatile alternatives.

Dogecoin price chart. Source: CoinGecko

Why We Picked Dogecoin:

Dogecoin has been one of the best meme coins in the market for its entire existence. It may not offer much growth potential when compared to smaller meme coins like MAXI or SNORT, but it often performs well when the meme coin market is booming. Importantly, it’s easily available for beginners on pretty much every crypto exchange and even apps like Robinhood or CashApp.

Risks of Investing in Dogecoin:

Dogecoin faces structural challenges that limit its long-term investment appeal. It offers no real utility to users and mostly relies on speculation. Unlike Bitcoin’s capped supply, DOGE has unlimited inflation with 5 billion new coins created annually, creating constant downward pressure on price and making it less suitable as a store of value.

Editor’s Take (Julia Sakovich): Dogecoin remains the largest and most popular meme coin in the world, which likely makes it less risky than smaller meme coins, though it also offers less potential profit than smaller, riskier meme tokens like WEPE and MAXI.

7. Shiba Inu (SHIB) — Popular Meme Coin With Multiple Use Cases and DeFi Earning Opportunities

Shiba Inu is currently priced at with a $7 billion market cap. The project features a comprehensive ecosystem including ShibaSwap DEX, Shibarium Layer 2 network processing 4.5 million daily transactions, and governance tokens LEASH and BONE.

Shiba Inu has a massive community that is highly active on social platforms like X and Reddit. However, its best aspect is its talented developer team. They’ve built significant use cases for SHIB, ensuring the project moves away from its speculative and hype-driven reputation.

Shiba Inu price chart. Source: CoinGecko

Why We Picked Shiba Inu:

Shiba Inu combines the staying power and cultural impact of DOGE (albeit to a lesser extent) with greater growth potential and extensive DeFi utility. It probably doesn’t have the potential to 100x or 1000x like other coins on this list (at least not on a reasonable time scale), but it’s likely to remain one of the best meme coins for quite some time.

Risks of Investing in Shiba Inu:

Since its launch in 2023, Shibarium has burned just 1.15 billion SHIB tokens, valued at around $15,500. This represents less than 1% of the total 549 trillion token supply, so the impact on circulation is minimal here.

Editor’s Take (Filip Stojanovic): As the second-largest meme coin by market cap, SHIB has been able to set itself apart with legitimate utility such as staking rewards along with a unique deflationary token burning mechanism. Like Dogecoin, it likely offers less volatility at the cost of lower profit potential compared to small coins.

8. Brett (BRETT) — The Best Pure-Play for Gaining Exposure to the Base Network’s Growing Ecosystem

Brett, currently priced at     , emerged as the dominant humor-inspired cryptocurrency on the Base network after launching in February 2024. The token experienced explosive growth from near-zero to an all-time high of $0.236 in December 2024, achieving over $1 billion market cap before correcting.

Built with the project’s claimed fair launch principles — no presale, renounced contract, and 85% of supply added directly to liquidity — Brett has attracted over 666,000 holders and benefits from Base’s low transaction fees and fast processing speeds.

Brett price chart. Source: CoinGecko

Why We Picked Brett:

Brett is the leading community-driven crypto on Coinbase’s Base Layer 2 with a $490 million market cap. The largest coins in certain niches and networks like BRETT often benefit from major growth within their ecosystems, and Base is currently on a tear with its Total Value Locked (TVL) experiencing massive growth.

Risks of Investing in Brett:

As a meme coin with no utility, Brett is subject to extreme volatility and its price is heavily influenced by social media trends and market sentiment, rather than fundamental utility. On-chain analysts revealed that insiders held over 81% of the supply at launch, causing the token to drop 47% from its peak when these allegations surfaced.

Editor’s Take (Nadica Metuleva): BRETT has experienced massive success as the top meme coin on Base, despite offering no utility whatsoever, but concerns over insider holdings increase the risk of a rug pull.

9. Popcat (POPCAT) — Top Solana Meme Coin with Tier-One Listings and an Organic Community

Popcat, launched in December 2023, experienced explosive growth, reaching an all-time high of $2.06 in November 2024 before correcting to current levels. The project capitalizes on the viral Popcat meme featuring a domestic short-haired cat named Oatmeal, whose mouth opens and closes in a comical “popping” motion.

The token delivered over 410,000% gains from launch to peak, establishing itself as the first cat-themed meme coin to reach a $1 billion market cap. The project features a unique clicking game where users compete nationally on a global leaderboard.

Popcat price chart. Source: CoinGecko

Why We Picked Popcat:

Currently priced at with a $268 million market cap, Popcat is easily one of Solana’s top meme coins. Its unique, viral mascot of the “Oatmeal” cat meme and interactive clicking game have made it a powerhouse on the network. Finally, it has already secured exchange listings on some of the biggest tier-one exchanges like Coinbase, ByBit, and Kraken.

Risks of Investing in Popcat:

Popcat faces significant risks that you should carefully consider. The token has dropped over 62% from its peak and its high whale concentration poses major risks, with one wallet holding over 6.5% of supply.

Editor’s Take (Otar Topuria): Popcat is the most prominent cat-themed meme coin, which has since become a large market. If new cat meme coins keep thriving, Popcat could benefit from the wave of success. Nevertheless, it is well below its all-time high and it has been stuck in a downtrend since May.

10. Pepe (PEPE) Mainstream Frog-Themed Meme Coin with an Exceptionally Strong Following

Pepe (PEPE) currently trades at with a $4.2 billion market cap. This frog-themed token has built a following since launching in April 2023, despite openly stating it’s “completely useless and for entertainment purposes only”. The project operates with a no-tax policy, locked liquidity, and has released its entire 420 trillion token supply into circulation. It is also listed on major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase.

The project has inspired a wave of other humor-themed cryptos, strengthening its position as a cultural phenomenon. Bulls are watching whether PEPE can eventually flip larger tokens like SHIB or DOGE, which could trigger massive buying activity across the entire frog coin ecosystem.

Pepe price chart. Source: CoinGecko

Why We Picked Pepe:

Pepe consistently ranks among the top 30 cryptocurrencies by market cap at $4.2 billion, partially thanks to its authentic focus on memes and community. By harnessing what may be the most popular and viral meme of all time as its mascot, it has gained incredible popularity and staying power in the market.

Risks of Investing in Pepe:

Investing in PEPE, like all meme coins, comes with major risks. The token is extremely volatile and driven purely by speculation, social media trends, and community sentiment. Like all viral cryptos, PEPE’s success depends entirely on maintaining cultural relevance and community engagement — if attention shifts to newer projects or the trend fades, it could lose value rapidly without any underlying utility to support its price.

Editor’s Take (Filip Stojanovic): PEPE has proved its relevance time and time again, thanks to its classic meme mascot, early-mover advantage, and focus on community. It may offer lower profit potential, but will likely be less volatile than smaller meme coins.

11. Foxy (FOXY) — High-Risk, High-Return Meme Coin Offering Exposure to the Linea Ecosystem

Foxy currently trades at around $0.002592 with an $7.77 million market cap, serving as the unofficial mascot and first “culture coin” for the Linea blockchain. Linea is a zkEVM Layer 2 solution backed by ConsenSys that offers 6,200 TPS with gas fees 25–30x lower than Ethereum mainnet, hosting over 350 applications with $412.3 million in TVL.

What makes Foxy compelling is its connection to the broader ConsenSys ecosystem, which includes MetaMask’s 100+ million users and seamless integration with popular web3 tools like Infura and Truffle.

Foxy price chart. Source: CoinGecko

Why We Picked Foxy:

Foxy is one of the smallest meme coins on this list, which makes it a high-risk, high-reward coin. By securing the spot of the de facto meme coin of the Linea ecosystem (for now, at least), it has tremendous growth potential if the network continues to grow at this pace.

Risks of Investing in FOXY:

FOXY faces several risks that make it suitable only for high-risk investors. It is a micro-cap meme coin trading 87.90% below its all-time high and has experienced significant volatility with daily price swings often exceeding 10%. With only 58.5% of the total supply currently in circulation, future token releases could create selling pressure and dilute existing holders’ positions. As new tokens enter the market, Foxy and the Linea ecosystem will likely need to experience massive growth to outweigh the effects of dilution and keep its value up.

Editor’s Take (Nadica Metuleva): Foxy separates itself from the rest of the pack with its status as the first culture coin on Consensys’ Linea, but it’s still a very small coin. It may offer tremendous profit potential, but it’s also likely one of the riskiest coins on our list.

12. Bonk (BONK) — Solana-Based Meme Coin with Rapidly Expanding Ecosystem

Bonk (BONK) currently trades at with a $1.9 billion market cap. Launched on Christmas Day 2022 with 50% of its supply airdropped to the Solana community, BONK has built an impressive ecosystem with over 350 on-chain integrations spanning DeFi, NFTs, gaming, and trading tools.

What sets BONK apart from typical meme coins is its comprehensive utility framework, including the popular Bonk Bot trading tool that recently generated over $1 million in daily revenue, token burning mechanisms, and acceptance as payment across multiple Solana projects.

Bonk price chart. Source: CoinGecko

Why We Picked Bonk:

Bonk is quite similar to Shiba Inu, combining the cultural power of a popular Shiba Inu meme with a huge ecosystem of DeFi apps, NFTs, trading bots, and over 350 on-chain integrations. As the second-largest meme coin on Solana with a market cap of $1.9 billion and a massive community of nearly 1 million holders, it seems to have extraordinarily strong staying power.

Risks of Investing in BONK:

BONK’s massive token supply of over 56 trillion tokens limits its price appreciation potential. Achieving a $1 price point would require its market capitalization to exceed $56 trillion, which is higher than that of major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. While it is listed on major exchanges, its liquidity can be volatile. Large sell-offs and low trading volumes can lead to significant price swings.

Editor’s Take (Otar Topuria): Bonk started out as a regular meme coin with a Shiba Inu mascot and no real utility, but it has since transformed into an entire DeFi ecosystem with over 400 integrations across 13 blockchains. Due to its size, it likely offers moderate profit potential at the cost of significant volatility.

Compare Top Meme Coins by Investment Strategy

Before putting money into any project, it helps to see how they stack up against each other. The comparison table below highlights the key differences between our recommended meme cryptos.

How We Picked These Meme Coins – Our Methodology

We examined the most successful viral crypto projects, covering thousands of short and long-term pricing rallies. Our review focused on things like social media buzz, market cap, tokenomics, ecosystem support (like Solana or Base), and how long people tend to hold. We also considered risks and overall market sentiment to rank the top community-driven tokens in 2025.

Read on to learn more about our research methods.

Community Strength and Growth (20%)

Our extensive research revealed that the best meme projects to invest in have strong communities. Projects with the largest market capitalizations, like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu, have millions of holders. Blockchain data shows that the average holding time is several months, a notable figure for these viral coins.

Strong meme coin communities also boast the highest percentage of multi-year holders, keeping faith even during bearish cycles. In addition to specific holder counts, we also focused on growth levels. Brett, for example, has 806,000 holders even though it only launched in February 2024..

Tip: Use Dune Analytics for meme coin holder trends.

Dune analytics. Source: Dune

Another community metric is social media. Local communities can help micro-cap tokens become billion-dollar powerhouses. Shiba Inu and Pepe are two examples. Both achieved mainstream success through active social media engagement, where the phrase “shill your own bags” comes from.

Holders are actively encouraged to self-promote their token holdings on X, Reddit, Telegram, and more. This is one of the most effective marketing strategies, requiring zero resources other than time and commitment. As such, we explored social media followers on the main networks and how much engagement each meme community achieves.

Tokenomics (20%)

Tokenomics refers to the economic design of a crypto token. The way a coin’s supply, distribution, and incentives are structured can be a key factor in spotting the next breakout project.

Start by looking at the token supply. The exact number of tokens isn’t as important as whether the supply is capped. Most top meme coins (except Dogecoin) limit how many tokens can ever exist. This creates scarcity and reassures holders that new tokens won’t endlessly dilute the value.

Next, check the circulating supply. Strong tokens usually have a high percentage of tokens already in circulation. This means most of the supply is in public hands, freely traded on the market. For instance, Shiba Inu has a maximum supply of 589.55 trillion tokens (down from 1 quadrillion due to burns), and 100% are in circulation.

By contrast, some coins raise red flags with low circulating supply. Foxy, for example, has only 33% in circulation on the Linea network, meaning a large portion could still be released and sold, putting pressure on the price.

Token distribution matters, too. The best meme coins are held by many investors, not just a few big wallets. This can make the project more stable and less risky for new buyers, though there will always be substantial risks.

For example, SafeMoon once had 40% of its supply controlled by a small group of wallets – making it vulnerable to whale manipulation. In contrast, Pepe is widely distributed across hundreds of thousands of holders, mostly smaller wallets. This prevents any single group from dominating the market.

Crypto tokens with transaction taxes rarely succeed. SafeMoon pioneered this model by taxing buys and sells to discourage short-term trading. But research shows whales avoid taxed projects, so the strongest viral tokens typically support free, untaxed trading.

Finally, look at whether a coin has a burn mechanism. Burning permanently removes tokens from circulation, increasing scarcity. Shiba Inu, for example, reduced its supply from 1 quadrillion to about 589.55 trillion, with over 410 trillion tokens burned. Similar to stock buybacks, this can boost prices by making each remaining token more valuable.

Unique Selling Points and Use Cases (20%)

Standing out in the crowded meme coin market has never been more difficult. According to a recent study, about 37 million new coins were launched in January 2025 alone. Naturally, only a very small percentage of these cryptocurrencies will succeed.

BTC Hyper staking. Photo: Bitcoin Hyper

We found that the most likely viral tokens to blow up are those offering a unique selling point (USP). For example, Bitcoin Hyper’s USP is its status as a Bitcoin Layer 2 solution powered by Solana’s Virtual Machine. Like Ethereum-based L2s like Optimism and Arbitrum, Bitcoin Hyper aims to use roll-up architecture to make Bitcoin more scalable and programmable, potentially enabling 65,000+ transactions per second compared to Bitcoin’s current 3-7 TPS.

This solves a major problem: Bitcoin lacks the smart contract functionality and speed that modern DeFi applications require. These limitations have prevented Bitcoin from participating in the broader DeFi ecosystem, and Bitcoin Hyper aims to bridge this gap.

Another example of a meme coin with a USP is Shiba Inu. It has developed multiple use cases, ensuring investors have a reason to hold long-term. This includes DeFi liquidity pools, offering passive income through staking rewards and flexible withdrawal terms. Shiba Inu has also developed a metaverse with NFT land ownership. These are standout use cases that help Shiba Inu remain relevant.

Token Narratives (20%)

Narratives drive prices. In crypto, certain trends attract capital and push tokens higher. These narratives can last weeks or even months, but the key is getting in early before the hype peaks.

For example, between late 2023 and early 2024, Solana meme coins saw explosive growth. Irrespective of the fundamentals (or lack of), a majority of Solana projects rose in value, creating significant FOMO. However, like all narratives, the Solana trend eventually peaked.

Network-specific narratives have also hit Base, TRON, and TON. This is why it makes sense to hold exposure from different ecosystems. Brett, for instance, has found popularity on Base. And Foxy stands out from the Linea network.

That said, narratives aren’t only specific to ecosystems. They also appear in niche themes, such as cat-themed or political tokens.

Market Capitalization (10%)

Market cap matters when picking meme coins, which is why we considered this criteria when ranking the most popular meme coins. We covered various valuations to ensure all investor profiles were covered.

For example, the largest meme tokens by market capitalization offer a smaller upside but lower volatility. Examples include Dogecoin and Shiba Inu. Conversely, micro-cap projects like Foxy offer much higher growth potential, but the increased volatility won’t suit risk-averse investors.

Mid-cap tokens like Popcat and Brett sit somewhere in between. You can still target sizable growth, but you are not as exposed to wild pricing swings like micro-caps.

Exchange and Broker Listings (10%)

We also analyzed how exchange listings can impact a meme token’s price potential. Our findings show that the coins with tier-one listings have the best chance of mainstream success. For example, Pepe increased by 40% in one day when Robinhood and Coinbase announced they’d support the project.

This was big news for Pepe, considering retail clients largely use Robinhood and Coinbase. This investor type isn’t always comfortable using advanced crypto exchanges, so the listings made Pepe more accessible to beginners. Similarly, Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, FLOKI, and other market leaders have major exchange listings.

Coinbase assets. Source X (Twitter)

Most meme coins, however, are only listed on DEXs. While popular with advanced traders, these platforms have low liquidity and limited support for fiat payment methods like e-wallets and credit cards. Instead, investors must connect a wallet and use cryptocurrencies to purchase their desired coins.

Market Snapshot September 2025

It’s vital to carefully analyze the fundamentals, viral potential, and similar factors of a meme coin before investing, but you should also consider the wider market conditions and sentiment.

Utility-Focused Presales Are Experiencing Massive Growth

The crypto presale market in September 2025 is evolving rapidly, shaped by structural capital shifts and rising demand for real-world utility and opportunities for massive profit. According to CoinGecko’s 2025

Pepe price chart. Source: Uniswap

It also shows that investing early can be highly beneficial, especially if the project eventually blows up. That’s why we also include presale projects like Bitcoin Hyper and Maxi Doge. These projects aren’t listed on exchanges yet, as the presale process is still ongoing. While risky, anyone investing can get a discount on the final listing price.

Ideal for Short and Long-Term Strategies

Meme coins are suitable for all trading strategies, increasing their appeal to a wide audience. For example, beginners preferring a simple buy-and-hold strategy can focus on the market leaders. This includes Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, FLOKI, and Bonk. OFFICIAL TRUMP, backed by Donald Trump, arguably fits in this segment too, even though it’s less established.

Long-term investors with strong conviction can sit back and allow market forces to work their magic. There’s less emphasis on short-term pricing swings, meaning a less stressful investing experience. If anything, long-term investors increase their exposure during market dips, allowing them to buy their favorite tokens at a discount.

However, some investors have a shorter-term mindset. They want fast and rapid gains without loyalty or emotional attachment, so they often target shitcoins rather than established projects.

Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT), a shitcoin from the Solana ecosystem, is a good example here:

• Launched in dedication to Peanut, a pet squirrel and social media sensation, PNUT became the de facto project after the animal was seized and euthanized by authorities, which sparked global outrage.

• Naturally, a wave of crypto coins honoring Peanut was created, with the Solana-based token eventually becoming the de facto project. Launched at $0.03396 on November 5th, 2024, PNUT hit $2.47 on November 14th, triggering an unprecedented pricing rally of over 7,000% in just nine days.

• So, had you invested just $500 on the launch day, PNUT would have returned $358,000 at its peak.

Remember, examples like PNUT, SHIB, and FLOKI represent a tiny percentage of the broader market. Never make the mistake of thinking this is the norm. On the contrary, the majority of projects in this space fail.

Inclusiveness and Decentralized Wealth Building

Meme tokens are also popular for their inclusiveness. Anyone can buy them, often without needing to meet any minimum trading requirements. Buying through DEXs like Uniswap and Raydium offers added benefits, especially for investors in countries with strict crypto regulations.

DEXs provide complete anonymity, without account opening or ID verification needed. Tokens can be stored in non-custodial wallets, which gives investors full control. Unlike stocks, which are held by brokerage custodians, or cash in banks, these assets are fully accessible only to the holder.

Meme Coins Can Be Traded 24/7

Unlike stock exchanges, centralized and decentralized crypto platforms never close. Mid- to large-cap meme tokens also offer sufficient liquidity, allowing investors to convert holdings to stablecoins or local currency at any time.

For example, PEPE, with a market capitalization of several billion dollars, can be sold for Tether (USDT) and then converted to local currency. Smaller or micro-cap meme coins have lower liquidity, so selling can influence market prices and reduce the returns, even though 24/7 trading is possible.

Own a Large Number of Meme Tokens without Investing Large Amounts

Our research shows that most meme coins have substantial token supplies. For example, Catslap has a maximum supply of 9 billion SLAP tokens. This is why its token price is so low, currently at $0.0005309. So, for a small outlay of $200, you would own over 376,000 tokens.

In contrast, a $200 investment in Bitcoin would amount to 0.0023 BTC, a small fraction of one token. Owning a larger number of tokens is more of a psychological benefit, as it doesn’t impact the profit potential. Even so, many retail investors, especially retail clients, feel better about owning a large stash than a fractional token.

A Diverse Meme Coin Market Is Ideal for Diversification

Meme tokens are among the best investment sectors for building a diversified crypto portfolio. There are many angles to consider, ensuring investors avoid becoming overexposed to any project. For example, some investors buy several coins from different network ecosystems.

List of meme coins. Source: DEX Screener

They might buy Shiba Inu and Floki on Ethereum, Popcat and Bonk on Solana, and Brett and Mochi on Base. This links back to our earlier discussion on ecosystem narratives, whether specific meme cryptocurrency networks enjoy extended pricing rallies. Owning these viral tokens from the most popular meme coin ecosystems can help ensure broad market exposure.

Another diversification strategy is to build a viral coin portfolio with different risk-reward ratios.

For example:

• 60% of the portfolio could be held in large-cap meme coins like Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and Pepe.

• 30% could be allocated to mid-caps like Popcat, Brett, and Mog Coin.

• 10% could be invested in high-risk, high-return presales

These portfolio splits highlight the point. You should create your own diversification strategy based on your financial goals, risk tolerance, and favorite niches.

Potential Risks of Meme Coins

We’ll now move on to the risks of investing in meme tokens. Read on to ensure you’re fully aware of the loss potential.

Meme Coins Are Unregulated

First, it’s important to remember that meme cryptocurrencies operate in an unregulated market. As explained by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), “neither coin purchasers nor holders are protected by the federal securities laws.” This is why these coins are often called the “Wild West of Crypto”.

Anyone can create and launch a meme coin, meaning there’s no accountability. In contrast, regulated assets like stocks require strict oversight. Public companies must publish audited reports, post earnings calls, and disclose insider activity.

Plus, there is no consumer protection when buying and selling meme tokens on crypto exchanges. This means there’s little recourse if the exchange misplaces client funds. Conversely, using a regulated stockbroker typically means investor protection schemes cover you.

That’s the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) in the U.S., covering accounts up to $500,000 (up to $250,000 in cash) if the broker fails.

Most Meme Coins Fail

Investing in these coins is all about speculation. You’re speculating that the coin’s price will increase, allowing you to lock in a profit. However, this is easier said than done. Research shows that most new coin launches fail. If you purchase a meme token and its price declines, you will make a loss.

Crucially, these losses aren’t like investing in a blue-chip stock, which could drop by a few percent daily. On the contrary, even the best meme coins can lose double-digit percentages overnight.

List of meme coins. Source: CoinMarketCap

These losses range from 91% to 99.99% — a staggering amount considering the short timeframe. For example, suppose that yesterday you invested $1,000 in GameStop Coin. That $1,000 would now be worth just $81 and it might drop to $0 before long. This should be a reminder that meme tokens should only be purchased with funds you can afford to lose.

Many Meme Coin Projects Are Scams

You should be aware of meme coin scams before investing in this market. There are several different ways that cybercriminals can leave you with worthless tokens.

First, there’s the “honeypot” scam. This happens when a malicious smart contract is set up to trap investors. For example, only the scammers will be able to sell, while everyone else is stuck. The token price may rise temporarily, tricking others into buying, but when the scammers sell their tokens, the price plummets to zero, and holders lose their entire investment.

Other investors will look at the respective chart and think they’ve found the next meme coin to explode, subsequently investing their own money. The scammers will eventually use their whitelisting wallet to dump all of their tokens. The price crashes to zero almost immediately, meaning holders have lost their entire investment.

Another meme coin scam is the “rug pull”. The founders built the project up, creating hype to lure investors in. The scammers will abandon the project once the price increases by a certain amount. This is usually done by removing liquidity from any DEXs. They can also dump tokens on CEXs if any listings were secured, although this is rare.

Meme Coin Profits Are Taxable

It’s important to remember that while meme coins are unregulated, they’re still subject to capital gains taxes in most countries. This is usually on “realized” profits, meaning tax is only due if you sell and make a profit. However, the asset disposal doesn’t just include selling crypto coins for fiat money. It also includes token swaps.

For example:

• Suppose you buy 1,000 tokens at $0.50 each, amounting to a total investment of $500.

• You later swap those 1,000 tokens for another coin on a DEX. The tokens were worth $1.50 when you sold, meaning a $1,000 capital gain.

• That $1,000 gain will be liable for tax.

Crypto tax laws vary depending on the country, including capital gains and losses.

Emotional Risks of Meme Coin Investments

Another risk many investors overlook is the emotional ups and downs of meme coins. It’s easy to get caught up in constant “chart watching,” even checking prices late at night, which can lead to stress and poor decision-making.

Meme coin trading can also become addictive for some people, especially if they are constantly chasing major losses with extremely risky investments. This turns crypto investing into compulsive gambling.

Pros & Cons of Trading Meme Coins

Let’s summarize the pros and cons of these viral coins:

How to Find New Meme Coins Before the Next Bull Run

Finding the best viral tokens to buy can be as challenging as it is risky, especially with numerous new projects launching every month. The good news is that seasoned traders use a range of strategies and tactics that you can implement yourself.

Read on to know how and where to find 100x meme coins before they become mainstream.

Explore Meme Coin Presale Events

The first strategy is to explore upcoming presales. These fundraising events allow investors to purchase new meme cryptocurrencies before they’re added to exchanges. It’s somewhat similar to investing in a stock IPO, but instead of equity, you receive early access to a digital asset.

The main benefit of presales is that you’re getting in before the broader markets. Being early means a first-mover advantage, often giving you a significant discount on the final listing price. The hope is that the purchased coin blows up, allowing you to target significant growth.

However, presales are considerably riskier than established meme coins. They’re unproven, with no price history and a limited community. Investing in multiple coins can mitigate some risks, as only one needs to explode to see gains, but it’s always possible that they all fail to meet their goals. Some presales to check out include Bitcoin Hyper, a Bitcoin Layer 2 solution powered by the Solana VM, and PEPENODE — a unique gamified mine-to-earn project with an innovative presale and high staking rewards.

Set up Filters on DEX Aggregation Sites

In addition to presales, trending meme tokens can often be found on DEX aggregation sites. Examples include Birdeye and DEX Screener. These platforms extract data directly from the major blockchains. This enables investors to find suitable meme coins based on their preferences.

To avoid getting lost in the millions of tokens out there, you can set filters that align with your risk tolerance and your investment goals. No two investors are the same, so tailoring these filters is key to finding good opportunities.

List of meme coins. Source: Birdeye

Some of the key metrics to focus on include:

• Network Ecosystem: It’s wise to focus on specific ecosystems. Ethereum is the go-to blockchain for long-term meme coins with strong communities. Solana is all about short-term speculation. Base, the fast-growing network from Coinbase, is another good choice. Other options include TON, BNB Chain, and TRON.

• Launch Timeframe: This metric is very important from a risk management perspective. While investing in brand-new tokens (e.g., those launched within the past few hours) can be tempting, these projects will likely be scams. Consider setting the minimum launch time at seven days or more.

• Market Capitalization: Now, set the market capitalization range. High-risk investors might prefer meme coins with micro-cap valuations (e.g., under $1 million). Consider a higher market capitalization to mitigate the volatility risks.

• Price Performance: Consider using this metric to find tokens outperforming the broader market. For example, you might look for projects that have increased by at least 60% over the past 24 hours.

These filters are just some ways to find high-potential tokens. Importantly, only consider projects with:

• Locked Liquidity: This reduces the risks of a rug pull scam, meaning the liquidity can’t be removed. Check the lock period — it should ideally be at least a year.

• Audited Contract(s): Ensure the coin’s smart contract has been audited for high network security. Ensure this is from a reputable company. Audited contracts reduce the risks of a honeypot scam.

Use Alert Websites for Listing Announcements from Tier-One Exchanges

This strategy is aimed at investors targeting short-term gains. Major exchange listings often result in an immediate pricing rally. This is because only a small percentage of meme coins secure big listings — the majority only trade on DEXs. So, when a project gets approval from a top exchange, this creates hype, with people rushing to buy the token.

So, considering their position in the market, Binance and Coinbase have the biggest effect. However, listings on other tier-one exchanges like Kraken, Bybit, OKX, and Crypto.com can also have a similar impact. The only way to profit from this strategy is to enter the market as early as possible.

This means following a selection of tier-one exchanges on X, where announcements are typically made. The issue is that you’ll be inundated with notification alerts, as most X posts made by exchanges aren’t specifically related to listings. Instead, it’s best to use a third-party platform offering listing-only alerts.

For example, Cryptocurrency Alerting supports 47 exchanges, including new meme coins on Coinbase. You will receive an alert in real time as soon as the selected exchanges make a listing announcement. Alerts can be sent via email, telephone, SMS, or push notifications. A telephone call is the best option to ensure you don’t miss the alert.

Whale Wallet Tracking

Whale wallet tracking is another way to find the best coins before they blow up. Whales typically invest at least six figures, meaning their purchases can greatly impact the token’s price. Even more importantly, whales are experienced in picking high-growth meme coins, so following the same trades can pay dividends.

Again, using third-party platforms is the most effective solution. Some platforms offer a free service, allowing you to track a specific wallet address. A notification will be sent whenever that wallet buys or sells a meme coin. However, premium options provide the most valuable tracking benefits.

You’ll often be shown who actually owns the respective wallet, can track whales from multiple networks, and receive in-depth insights that aren’t available with free providers.

Trading Volume Spike

Another proven strategy is to track tokens experiencing sudden spikes in trading volume. For example, imagine you are exploring small-cap Solana projects. You come across a token that normally averages $500,000 in daily volume, but over the past 24 hours, its trading activity has jumped to $2.5 million. This kind of surge can signal growing interest and potential opportunities.

It could be because insiders know something the market doesn’t, such as an impending tier-one listing. Pricing rallies often follow volume spikes, so use data aggregation sites to find suitable projects.

Track Trending Meme Coins and Social Signals

Third-party pricing websites like CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko have trending sections. These sections show which meme cryptocurrencies have been trending in the past few hours. However, there have been accusations that trending coins are paid sponsorships, so you might want to use a more transparent platform like DEXTools.

Meme coins statistics. Source: Dextools

DEXTools uses an extensive methodology to ensure the credibility of its list of trending cryptocurrencies. This includes page views, volume spikes, buy and sell orders, liquidity, searches, and more. This means the listed cryptocurrencies are trending based on real data, leading to legitimate interest from the broader markets.

Meanwhile, X is among the best social media sites for finding the potential viral coins. We found that coins with a rapid increase in “mentions” can be a precursor to an impending price rally. Successful crypto projects are often born from social media hype and FOMO. However, you have to always be on the lookout for bots and fake engagement as both are extremely common on the platform.

The trick is focusing on projects with strong engagement but without the price already built in. This allows you to enter the market at a favorable price. Otherwise, buying into meme coins already blowing up means you risk investing at the peak.

Conclusion

Meme coins are a highly volatile market that can offer life-changing gains or significant losses. Being a profitable trader requires dedication, risk management, a solid strategy, and a healthy dose of luck. Experts argue that diversification is especially important for risk management, ensuring your capital is spread across many projects with different risk profiles and market capitalizations.

Our research shows that established meme coins like Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and Pepe offer a lower risk-reward ratio with proven staying power, appealing to beginners and long-term holders. Mid-cap ecosystem plays like Brett on Base and Bonk on Solana provide balanced exposure to growing Layer 2 networks with moderate risk levels. However, high-risk presales like Bitcoin Hyper and Maxi Doge may also be worth exploring for speculative investors seeking maximum upside potential, especially if you’re comfortable with the possibility of total loss and interested in getting the lowest possible entry prices before exchange listings.