Why do meme coins still matter in Crypto?

The term cryptocurrency usually brings to mind for the average person well-known entities like Bitcoin and Ethereum. These are the “serious” contenders, the coins that aspire to transform the functioning of money or establish new financial systems.
But alongside these heavyweights, a different kind of token has carved out a strong and surprisingly influential place in the market as meme coins.
You might think meme coins are just jokes. And yes, many of them are on purpose. However, beneath the humor lies something significant: community, culture, and at times even substantial profits.
What Are Meme Coins, Really?
Meme coins are cryptocurrencies that started as jokes or parodies. They frequently use comical names and logos, and their assertions do not address important issues such as climate change or banking systems. But this is exactly the point: they don’t take themselves too seriously.
The best-known example is Dogecoin, which began as a joke in 2013. It originated from a meme featuring a Shiba Inu dog. It was not expected to produce any results. Nonetheless, with internet support and tweets from Elon Musk, Dogecoin became one of the world’s most talked-about coins, with a market capitalization of more than $80 billion at one point.
Shiba Inu, PepeCoin, Floki, and more meme coins soon followed. While some were briefly popular, others built strong communities and remained relevant.
Why do people invest in meme coins?
Unlike serious projects that focus on long-term utility, meme coins are more about vibes and virality. People invest in them for different reasons:
● They’re fun. You’re not reading a 30-page whitepaper, but instead, you’re sharing memes and riding the hype.
● They’re cheap. Most meme coins launch with low prices, so small investors can afford to buy a lot of tokens.
● They go viral. A handful of trending tweets or TikTok videos can cause prices to increase.
● They create closely connected communities. A coin may begin as a joke, but once a community begins to support it, it can develop its own momentum.
Of course, meme coins are risky. Many of them crash just as fast as they rise. But for those who understand the risks and do their research, meme coins can be an exciting part of the crypto world.