2026-01-13 18:21:40

An interesting event has occurred in the crypto market—those digital assets that were originally just internet memes and community jokes are now reshaping the entire ecosystem with unimaginable force. Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, various animal-themed tokens... these once considered playful experiments have now become unavoidable entities in the market.

Speaking of the birth of Meme coins, it’s almost unbelievable. In 2013, someone made a joke using a Shiba Inu meme, and within three hours, Dogecoin was born. No one knew what would happen next, but eight years later? That "joke coin" has skyrocketed to nearly $90 billion in market cap, with even big names like Elon Musk coming out to endorse it.

Why is this happening? The key lies in something long overlooked—communities.

Traditional digital assets rely on technology, but Meme coins take a completely different path. Their value isn’t supported by complex code but by the consensus and cultural identity of thousands of people. This sense of identity grows from the bottom up, not something imposed by project teams.

Why can Meme coins attract so many people? First, the barrier to entry is really low. Bitcoin requires understanding a bunch of technical details, but Meme coins? A cute pet or a popular internet meme is enough to connect participants worldwide. The power of these cultural symbols exceeds your imagination. Second, they give ordinary people a sense of participation—no need to be a professional investor, anyone can understand and join this game. The freedom and sense of belonging brought by decentralization turn community members from passive holders into active builders and propagators.

This phenomenon reflects a fundamental shift in the crypto world: the value of assets is increasingly not just derived from technological innovation, but from cultural resonance. The explosive popularity of Meme coins is essentially a awakening of the community economy.

DOGE-6,58%

SHIB-6,24%

MEME-10,36%

BTC-2,55%

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WhaleWatcher

· 01-15 02:20

In other words, it's the realization of collective fantasy, but once enough people gather, it becomes real. A joke coin worth 90 billion, who is actually laughing? Community economy? I think it's just a relay of faith, with later entrants taking over from the previous wave. The real reason meme coins are popular: low threshold + FOMO + community sense of belonging. Technology and other factors are secondary. How long can this wave last? It feels like blowing bubbles; everyone is making money before they pop. I just want to ask, what will be the next animal coin... I'm already tired of the aesthetic. Rather than saying the community economy is awakening, it's more like retail investors have finally found a way to stick together and keep warm. It seems reasonable, but in reality, no one can predict which coin will become the next doge.

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UncleWhale

· 01-15 01:10

Basically, it's the power of consensus. A few meme players forcefully create an ecosystem out of it. Wait, can this logic really continue... It feels like an adjustment is inevitable sooner or later. Wow, someone really made money off this? Should I get on board too? Community economy? Sounds very appealing, but ultimately it's still about gambling on people's minds. This wave of meme coins is interesting, but the risk is just too high, everyone. It feels like another round of wealth transfer, but this time the roles are reversed.

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MindsetExpander

· 01-14 06:49

It sounds nice, but it's just the gambling mentality at work—everyone just wants to get rich overnight. --- The community consensus sounds comfortable, but when the crash happens, no one can save anyone. --- So meme coins are just financial pyramid schemes with a different shell? I feel like this logic is a bit strange. --- Wait, $90 billion just because of a meme? How many people are brainless? --- I don't deny the power of the community, but this thing is extremely risky. Those who go all in are crazy. --- Just realized, this is symbolic economics—it's all about psychological expectations. --- To put it simply, it's still hot potato; those who got in early make money, those who get in late lose out—that's it. --- It's all fun and games, but people who treat this as an investment should reflect. --- I just want to ask how many people have actually made money from meme coins, or have they all been cut like chives?

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BlindBoxVictim

· 01-13 22:10

Basically, it's collective hallucination making money, but I want to participate in any illusion that can make money. The community's destructive power is quite strong; one meme can be blown up to 90 billion, how many people have to take the bait? Low threshold means it's also easy to cut leeks; those who get off this wave are definitely going to suffer heavy losses. Cultural resonance? Ha, I just can't stand this kind of rhetoric; it's clearly gambling. Elon Musk's endorsement was really the highlight; a word from the big shot and the leeks rush in to go all-in. This logic also applies to pyramid schemes, right? I hope I didn't misunderstand. The so-called decentralization and sense of freedom are pure nonsense; it's still being played to death by the manipulators. The essence of Meme coins is just hot potato; whoever ends up taking the last plate is the fool. If this continues, blockchain will become a pyramid scheme tool, no wonder people criticize it. Strong participation equals easy to be cut; I just want to hear who has made money.

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SnapshotLaborer

· 01-13 18:49

In simple terms, it's a consensus game where anyone can make a profit, and anyone can incur a loss.

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DevChive

· 01-13 18:44

Alright, so the community consensus is to overthrow technical barriers, right? That's correct, but how many can really hold up? People who got in on Dogecoin back then are now probably laughing their heads off. The problem is the bagholders that came afterward... It seems that meme coins are a reflection of financial democratization, allowing small investors like me to participate. But on the other hand, if one day Elon Musk's tweet can cause a market crash, that risk is not something to take lightly.

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MetaMaskVictim

· 01-13 18:43

Is that all? Cultural identity worth 90 billion? I think it's still highly speculative. Basically, it's just a game of taking over, whoever ends up last will lose. Low threshold is actually dangerous, a bunch of newcomers losing everything. Elon Musk's endorsement is just a boost; once he turns away, it's over. Community economy awakening? Wake up, this is just hot potato. I just want to know how long this wave can last; it feels like it's going to cool off sooner or later.

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SchrodingerAirdrop

· 01-13 18:42

Community economy awakening? Basically, it's collective celebration, betting on the next bag-holder. Just one meme can raise 90 billion, this wave is a victory of culture. Low threshold—on the bright side, it's democratization; on the less bright side, it’s... what are you guys thinking? Elon Musk’s single tweet sent the coin price soaring. Is this still an asset? This is the entertainment industry’s style. The power of communities is indeed absolute, but don’t forget those who got cut, the leeks. They didn’t participate in the happiness of builders. Playing Meme coins is no different from gambling; it all depends on whether you're the dealer or the player. But I have to admit, this stuff has really changed something—from a belief in technology to a cultural resonance, it’s quite interesting. It’s all become Ponzi coins, so what’s all this talk about cultural identity and packaging techniques? What was the next skyrocketing Meme coin again? I want to get on board. Honestly, Meme coins are really about breaking the monopoly of elites, allowing ordinary people to also become the dealer. It’s the same story again—once the leeks are all harvested, the story is over.

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ProbablyNothing

· 01-13 18:40

Basically, it's the culture that has triumphed over technology. This thing is really wild. The essence of meme coins being popular is that there are many people; as long as we all believe in it, it’s valuable. The power of the community is indeed underestimated; this point is quite accurate. Wait a minute, what if one day everyone disperses, and these coins become worthless paper? Low barriers to entry are actually a double-edged sword; more people enter, and people leave quickly. I'm actually a bit worried about Musk endorsing it, over-relying on personal influence. True decentralization shouldn't depend on any one person, but reality seems to be the opposite. I agree that ordinary people have a strong sense of participation, but how do we quantify the risk?

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DAOdreamer

· 01-13 18:30

This is true democratic capitalism, turning from a joke into a belief.

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