Best Meme Coins to Buy in 2025

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While meme coins are speculative cryptocurrencies that can be extremely volatile (and sometimes may not have use cases), they still offer significant price potential. The most successful meme coins, including Dogecoin, Pepe, and Shiba Inu, have built huge communities with millions of loyal holders.

However, millions of meme coins exist, and most fail to deliver gains, making it increasingly difficult to choose suitable projects. This guide explores the best meme coins to buy now, how to build a profitable portfolio, and what risk mitigation practices to follow.

Best Meme Coins to Buy in May 2025

Best Meme Coins to Invest in 2025

According to our research, listed below are the best meme coins to invest in today:

• Dogecoin (DOGE) — The Original Meme Coin With a $1 Price Potential in 2025
• Solaxy (SOLX) — New Web3 Startup Building a Layer-2 Network for the Solana Ecosystem
• Shiba Inu (SHIB) — One of the Biggest Meme Coin Ecosystems With DeFi and Metaverse Features
• BTC Bull Token (BTCBULL) — ERC-20 Meme Coin Offering Real Bitcoin Rewards on BTC Price Milestones
• Brett (BRETT) — The Leading Meme Coin From Coinbase’s Fast-Growing Base Network
• MIND of Pepe (MIND) — Self-Sovereign AI Crypto Agent With Meme Coin Launch Capabilities
• Popcat (POPCAT) — Top Solana Meme Coin With Tier-One Listings and an Organic Community
• Pepe (PEPE) — Mainstream Frog-Themed Meme Coin With an Exceptionally Strong Following
• Foxy (FOXY) — The De Facto Meme Coin on the Linea Network With a Micro-Cap Valuation
• Bonk (BONK) — Solana-Based Meme Coin With Rapidly Expanding Ecosystem

Exploring the Best Meme Coins to Buy: Deep Dive Analysis

Read on to discover the next meme coin to explode. Learn more about each meme coin project, including its unique selling point, token dynamics, price forecast, and more.

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

Why We Picked Dogecoin:

• The best meme coin to buy for long-term investors
• Has an established and loyal community consisting of millions of holders
• Trades on retail-friendly platforms, making it a great choice for meme coin beginners

It will come as no surprise that Dogecoin (DOGE) is one of the best meme coins to buy. It’s the original meme coin, launched in 2013 as a joke. Fast-forward to 2025, and Dogecoin has a multi-billion-dollar valuation and is one of the biggest cryptocurrencies in general. However, Dogecoin has a smaller upside potential than other meme coin picks.

This is because it already has a significant market cap, but even so, Dogecoin is a great option for long-term holders. It’s not solely based on generating short-term hype and FOMO like most meme coins, so it could provide more stable returns over a longer timeframe. Moreover, Dogecoin has an established community with millions of loyal holders.

DOGE also trades on mainstream investment platforms that largely operate outside the Web3 space (like Robinhood, Cash App, and Webull), providing exposure to audiences who aren’t comfortable using crypto exchanges. As Dogecoin has long been available for trading on every leading crypto exchange, some analysts have set a DOGE price prediction target of $1 for 2025. This would surpass Dogecoin’s 2021 all-time high of $0.74.

Suitable For	Beginners and long-term holders. Dogecoin is the largest meme coin by market capitalization and is generally considered the first-ever meme-based crypto project.
Community Stats	X followers: 4.3MHolders: 8.3MReddit subs: 2.6M
Price & Risk Outlook	Relatively low-risk due to its market-leading status. High market cap means future gains could be lower than those of other meme coins.
Chain	Dogecoin has its own blockchain
Market Cap	$33 billion
Exchanges	Almost every trading platform, including Binance, Coinbase, and Bybit
Launched	December 2013

2. Solaxy (SOLX) — Presale Project With $36 Million Raised Offering Exposure to a Solana Layer-2 Network

Why We Picked Solaxy:

• New project building a layer-2 network for the Solana blockchain
• Millions of Solana projects across multiple Web3 verticals will benefit from increased reliability and scalability
• Currently in presale, with about $36 million raised

Solaxy (SOLX) is a brand-new Web3 project with an innovative product: a layer-2 network for Solana, one of the biggest major blockchains. Its native SOLX token is currently available exclusively through an ongoing presale, with exchange launches to come later in 2025.

As the first of its kind, Solaxy is already gaining attention, with over $36 million in presale funding secured so far.

Solaxy’s layer-2 network will potentially serve millions of Solana-based projects (from meme coins to NFT collections and DeFi services), ensuring that Solana’s fast transactions and low fees are maintained while avoiding network congestion and downtime. SOLX will be used to pay for all L2 network fees incurred by Solaxy users, and the tokens can also be staked to generate a dynamic APY of up to 112%.

These factors give SOLX a clear set of real use cases, with demand based on utility rather than short-term speculation. Solaxy’s cross-chain compatibility is another notable feature, as it will allow users to securely access other blockchain ecosystems like Ethereum and Base.

The ongoing Solaxy presale accepts various cryptocurrencies as payment, and SOLX will be listed on major exchanges after the sale’s conclusion.

Suitable For	Investors interested in the Solana ecosystem and layer-2 networks. SOLX is already attracting major attention from whales, with large purchases of up to $400,000 during its presale so far.
Community Stats	X followers: 75KTelegram: 12.7K
Price & Risk Outlook	High-risk, as SOLX is still in its presale and has yet to launch on exchanges. However, many analysts expect it to multiply in value when it becomes available to trade.
Chain	Solana
Market Cap	$36 million raised through presale
Exchanges	TBA
Launch Date	TBA

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

Why We Picked Shiba Inu:

• One of the best meme coins for meaningful use cases
• The SHIB ecosystem includes a metaverse, play-to-earn games, an L2 chain, and DeFi tools
• Boasts one of the largest and most active meme coin communities

Shiba Inu (SHIB) is the second-largest meme coin project by market cap and was launched in 2020. It’s based on the dog breed of the same name, inspiring thousands of other meme coins to adopt a similar narrative. Shiba Inu is one of the most successful meme coins for price performance; it’s over 1 million percent since its inception, even though current prices are a fraction of SHIB’s all-time highs.

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.

For example, Shiba Inu recently launched decentralized finance (DeFi) services that allow holders to earn passive yields and a Layer 2 network called Shibarium. There’s also a decentralized exchange (DEX) for seamless token swaps, not to mention a metaverse and play-to-earn games.

These features will ensure that Shiba Inu remains relevant long-term, making it one of the top meme coins for buy-and-hold investors and beginners.

Suitable For	Fans of dog-themed meme coins looking for an alternative to DOGE.
Community Stats	X followers: 3.9MTelegram: 72.5KReddit: 548K
Price & Risk Outlook	Relatively low-risk. SHIB’s market cap is approximately one-third of Dogecoin’s, indicating potential for explosive growth.
Chain	Ethereum
Market Cap	$8.9 billion
Exchanges	Almost all major crypto exchanges
Launched	August 2020

4. BTC Bull Token (BTCBULL) — Get Real BTC Airdrops When Bitcoin Hits Key Price Targets

Why We Picked BTC Bull Token:

• Innovative meme coin concept offering real Bitcoin rewards
• BTC is airdropped when the Bitcoin price hits key pricing milestones
• Deflationary coin with target-driven token burns

BTC Bull Token (BTCBULL) is one of the best Ethereum meme coins to watch. It’s another presale project on this list, allowing investors to get in from the ground up. This means a rock-bottom market cap and a discounted token price, which is only available during the BTCBULL presale.

Unlike many meme coins, BTC Bull Token has developed an innovative and unique earning framework. For instance, BTCBULL holders will receive passive rewards via airdrops triggered by Bitcoin initially hitting key price milestones like $150,000 and $200,000. These airdrops could continue through future milestone achievements until Bitcoin hits $1 million, and a BTCBULL airdrop will also take place when BTC gets to $250,000.

But that’s not all — holders also benefit when the Bitcoin price gets to other historic levels like $125,000, $175,000, and $225,000. This will activate a burning mechanism, meaning a percentage of BTCBULL tokens are removed from the supply. This makes BTCBULL a deflationary meme coin as the supply gradually becomes smaller, increasing scarcity and potential demand.

The project’s ongoing presale, having raised over $5.7 million so far, is currently offering BTCBULL for just $0.00251 per token — with the option to begin staking for a dynamic 72% APY.

Suitable For	Bitcoin bulls looking for additional ways to gain from BTC’s price moves.
Community Stats	X followers: 8.5KTelegram: 2.9K
Price & Risk Outlook	Very high-risk, but BTCBULL holder rewards are connected to BTC price milestones, which are very likely to be achieved in the long term.
Chain	Ethereum
Market Cap	$5.7 million raised through presale
Exchanges	TBA
Launch Date	TBA

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

Why We Picked Brett:

• The biggest meme coin on the Base network
• Base, backed by Coinbase, is one of the Web3 space’s fastest-growing ecosystems
• Brett offers a pure-play investment in the Base meme coin narrative

Meme coin investing is all about following the smart money, with Brett (BRETT) being our top pick for exposure to Base. In a nutshell, Base is a native layer-2 network backed by Coinbase. As a market leader with 100 million verified users, Coinbase’s backing is significant, and it’s already begun listing Base meme coins on its primary exchange platform.

Moreover, Coinbase is on solid ground from a regulatory point of view, with full licensing in the US and its COIN stock being listed on the S&P 500. Therefore, as the largest meme coin on Base, Brett could be one of the top-performing cryptocurrencies in this cycle. It also leverages a popular narrative that connects it to PEPE, as the Brett and Pepe the Frog meme characters are best friends in Matt Furie’s “Boy’s Club” comics.

Brett doesn’t offer any use cases but boasts a huge community. Blockchain data shows over 800,000 holders, although this doesn’t include dead wallets (wallets that sold BRETT but still have a few tokens left).

Regarding price potential, BRETT trades well below its all-time high from December 2024, when it surpassed over $2 billion in market capitalization. Coinbase has hinted at a potential listing, which would be highly beneficial for the Brett price.

Suitable For	PEPE holders planning to diversify their portfolios, and meme investors with medium risk appetites.
Community Stats	X followers: 150.7KTelegram: 38K
Price & Risk Outlook	Medium-risk, but with a high likelihood of being listed on Coinbase.
Chain	Base
Market Cap	$686 million
Exchanges	Most major exchanges (e.g. Bybit, Bitget) and DEXs (e.g. Uniswap)
Launched	February 2024

6. MIND of Pepe (MIND) — AI Agent on the Ethereum Blockchain With a Self-Adapting Personality

Why We Picked MIND of Pepe:

• The best meme coin to gain exposure to artificial intelligence (AI) agents
• Will interact with the crypto community autonomously on social platforms like X
• Has the ability to create and launch new meme coins without human intervention

MIND of Pepe (MIND) is an innovative concept from the AI agent niche, one of crypto’s fastest-growing and hottest narratives. MIND of Pepe uses a self-sovereign algorithm that operates without human involvement. Its AI-powered agent will deliver real-time trading setup notifications to MIND holders using a private and exclusive internal dashboard.

The overarching objective is to help MIND become a top-10 meme coin by market capitalization and provide a constant stream of additional investment opportunities for MIND holders. MIND of Pepe will also create and deploy new meme coins autonomously and promote them via social media, potentially giving existing MIND holders early access.

MIND of Pepe will handle all new token launch requirements, from developing and testing smart contracts to adding liquidity pools on DEXs. This will directly benefit MIND holders without requiring technical expertise.

The MIND presale will end on May 31, and tokens can still be purchased at a discounted sale price of $0.0037515. Almost $10 million has already been raised, and many MIND holders are staking their tokens for APYs of up to 246% pa.

Suitable For	Believers in the “frog coin” narrative, which has already driven PEPE’s mainstream success.
Community Stats	X followers: 22.4KTelegram: 5.2K
Price & Risk Outlook	High-risk, but MIND of Pepe’s AI is designed to supply MIND holders with further investment opportunities.
Chain	Ethereum
Market Cap	Almost $10 million raised through presale so far
Exchanges	TBA
Launch Date	TBA (Presale ends May 31)

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

Why We Picked Popcat:

• One of the biggest meme coins on Solana
• Tier-one listings secured from many of the biggest exchanges
• Has a huge community, including 100,000 X followers

Popcat (POPCAT) is one of the best Solana meme coins to buy. It launched in late 2023 and has produced unprecedented gains since then. Those investing in Popcat from day one have witnessed price growth of almost 2 million percent (although a massive market correction recently created a new buying opportunity for POPCAT bulls).

The Popcat project offers no use cases, but its website has a novel “clicking” game. The Popcat mascot’s mouth opens whenever clicked, contributing points to the website’s global leaderboard. This is country-specific, adding a degree of nationalistic competitiveness (Russia, Poland, and Belgium currently lead).

Popcat has already secured some major exchange listings, including Coinbase, Kraken, Crypto.com, KuCoin, and Bybit. Its next target will most likely be Binance, the world’s biggest crypto exchange by trading volume.

Popcat also has a huge community, with about 100,000 followers on X and over 140,000 token holders (as per Solana blockchain data). Considering its relatively modest market cap, Popcat is one of the best plays in the meme coin space.

Suitable For	Investors who find Solana ecosystem and “cat season” meme coin plays compelling.
Community Stats	X followers: 100KTelegram: 19.4K
Price & Risk Outlook	Medium-risk due to its previous price correction, but with potential for more major exchange listings.
Chain	Solana
Market Cap	$468 million
Exchanges	Most major exchanges (except Binance) and DEXs (e.g. Raydium)
Launched	December 2023

8. Pepe (PEPE) Mainstream Frog-Themed Meme Coin With an Exceptionally Strong Following

Why We Picked Pepe:

• Consistently the third-largest meme coin by market cap
• Leader of the “frog coin” meme narrative
• Often outperforms the market during bull runs

Pepe is considered a legendary meme coin among crypto investors, as it’s achieved extreme success despite having no roadmap or utility. Its website even states that “the coin is completely useless and for entertainment purposes only,” but that didn’t stop PEPE fans from pumping its market cap to an all-time peak of more than $10 billion in December last year.

That move was just PEPE’s latest higher high — and many analysts expect this coin to go even further in the coming months and years.

As well as boosting the spirits of its own token holders, PEPE has inspired other meme coins like Brett and MIND of Pepe, which are also included in this list. Bulls are also watching SHIB and DOGE, which currently have market caps that far exceed PEPE’s — so if PEPE can flip one of those dog coins, it would be a truly historic occasion that might inspire even more buying activity.

Suitable For	Open-minded meme coin investors willing to look beyond more conventional options.
Community Stats	X followers: 793KHolders: 433K
Price & Risk Outlook	Normally considered low-risk, due to its proven track record and community backing.
Chain	Ethereum
Market Cap	$5.6 billion
Exchanges	Most major exchanges (including Binance, Bybit, and Uniswap)
Launched	April 2023

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

Why We Picked Foxy:

• Considered the de facto meme coin from the Linea ecosystem
• Linea is a layer-2 network backed by the founders of MetaMask
• Currently trades with a micro-cap valuation, potentially offering a significant upside

Foxy (FOXY) is one of the best meme coins to buy from the Linea network. Linea is a layer-2 for the Ethereum blockchain, offering huge scalability via zero-knowledge proofs. While other layer-2s offer low fees and fast transactions, Linea stands out for its association with MetaMask (the same founders, Consensys, back it).

Therefore, Foxy is the best pure-play for accessing this narrative. While no official confirmation has been provided, existing holders believe that Foxy might benefit from MetaMask’s 100 million users, as the platform could provide direct access to Foxy, allowing anyone to purchase tokens directly from their MetaMask wallet. However, this is purely a rumor at this stage.

We should mention that Foxy is a micro-cap meme coin, trading at a fraction of its market capitalization peak of just $85 million. This means the upside could be significant but equally, so are the risks. Moreover, Foxy’s token dynamics will be a turnoff for many. Just 33% of the total supply is in the public float, with 15% currently held by “seed round” backers.

Community Stats	X followers: 540KHolders: 173K
Price & Risk Outlook	Micro-cap coins are always high-risk, but Foxy’s connection to Consensys and MetaMask could be promising.
Chain	Ethereum
Market Cap	$9 million
Exchanges	Some major exchanges (e.g. Bybit, Gate.io, and OKX)
Launched	April 2024

10. Bonk (BONK) — Solana-Based Meme Coin With Rapidly Expanding Ecosystem

Why We Picked Bonk:

• Proven staying power, maintaining investor confidence
• Extreme price gains with room for extra surges
• Supported by the “dog coin” meme narrative and the success of Dogecoin and Shiba Inu

From AI agents to NFT collections, token burning protocols, DeFi, staking services, and listings on every major crypto exchange providing access to deep trading liquidity, Bonk already has it all despite launching just over a few years ago. So far, its all-time peak market cap stands at $3.72 billion — but other dog coins like SHIB and DOGE are still far ahead. Therefore, BONK is highly attractive to investors who don’t want to miss the next big winner, but are also not too comfortable with holding micro-cap cryptos.

Bonk has also been listed on Robinhood, which only lists around 40 cryptos. This makes it available to mainstream investors and raises the possibility of institutional buyer demand surging in 2025. Now that a new bull phase is underway, BONK could seriously compete for at least a top-20 spot on the overall crypto market cap leaderboards.

Suitable For	Investors who may have missed DOGE and SHIB, but want to ride the dog coin wave.
Community Stats	X followers: 419KHolders: 433K
Price & Risk Outlook	Normally considered low-risk, due to its proven track record and community backing.
Chain	Solana
Market Cap	$1.7 billion
Exchanges	Most major exchanges (including Binance, Orca, and Robinhood)
Launched	December 2022

Compare Top Meme Coins by Investment Strategy

Before investing in any asset (including cryptocurrencies), it’s important to have a solid and effective strategy in place. This will help you manage everything from entry and exit points to the risks involved and the emotions (such as fear and greed) that will naturally occur while your position is active. The table below categorizes the coins reviewed in this article by their strategic fit, current status, and potential risk levels.

How We Picked the Best Meme Coins to Buy

We examined the most successful meme coin projects, covering thousands of short and long-term pricing rallies.

Analyzed metrics included social media hype, market capitalization, network ecosystems (e.g., Solana or Base), tokenomics, average meme coin holder times, and broader market sentiment. This formed the basis of our methodology (along with dynamic considerations like strategic fit and risk assessments), allowing us to rank the best meme coins in 2025.

Read on to learn more about our research methods.

Meme Coin vs Shitcoin

First, our methodology ensured a distinction between meme coins and shitcoins. This is important, as history suggests the following:

• Meme coins are built around strong communities, with average holder times significantly longer than those of shitcoins. These projects are ideal for long-term investors, as they provide more modest growth but over a much longer timeframe. Examples include Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and FLOKI.

• Shitcoins are focused on hype, FOMO, and speculation rather than building long-term communities. These projects often enjoy explosive growth in a short timeframe and are based on real-time trends. This includes political meme coins and those linked to trending events (e.g., Peanut the Squirrel and Luigi Mangione).

Now, choosing between meme coins and shitcoins depends on your preferred investing strategy. Beginners are best suited for meme coins. These projects often have longer-term visions with active developers, so you won’t need to constantly watch the markets.

Conversely, investors targeting short-term gains might prefer shitcoins. You will, however, need to actively research trending narratives, have solid risk-management practices, and have an exit strategy.

Community Strength and Growth

Our extensive research revealed that the best meme coins 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 meme 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.

Another community metric is social media. Local communities can help micro-cap meme coins 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 meme coin bags 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

Tokenomics is the “token economics” of a meme coin project. It’s one of the most important metrics when sourcing the next meme coin to blow up.

Let’s break down the fundamentals.

Token Supply

First, it’s crucial to understand the token supply dynamics.

Assess the total number of tokens that were created. The specific amount is less relevant than whether or not the supply is capped. For example, the leading meme coins (except for Dogecoin) have limited supplies. This provides holders with peace of mind that the founders won’t create and sell new tokens indefinitely. It also increases scarcity, similar to stores of value.

Next, evaluate the circulating supply. History shows that the most successful meme coins have a high percentage of tokens in circulation. This means most of the supply is in the public domain, freely bought and sold by the markets. For example, Shiba Inu has a maximum supply of 589.55 trillion (previously 1 quadrillion due to token burns).

Of that supply, 100% of the SHIB tokens are in circulation. However, some meme coins have unfavorable supply ratios, which is a red flag. For instance, while Foxy could be a smart play for gaining traction in the Linea network, it only has 33% of the supply in circulation. This is risky, as those tokens will eventually be released and potentially sold.

Token Distribution

The token distribution was another important part of our methodology. We found that the best meme coins to buy are evenly distributed across many holders.

For example:

• The now-defunct SafeMoon had about 40% of its supply held by a small handful of wallets. This meant the project was largely controlled by whales, who could impact the SafeMoon price anytime.
• In contrast, Pepe has one of the best supply dynamics in the meme coin market. Pepe has hundreds of thousands of holders, most of whom are small-value wallets. This ensures that any single group of holders can’t collude to manipulate the market.

Taxation

Very few meme coins have enjoyed success with a transaction tax. SafeMoon was one of the first pioneers of this concept. It taxed buy and sell orders, discouraging short-term speculation.

However, research shows that crypto whales avoid tax-based projects. Therefore, we only considered meme coins supporting free market conditions.

Burn Mechanism

We also discovered that the top meme coins have token burning mechanisms in place. Shiba Inu, for example, was initially created with a 1 quadrillion supply. Now standing at about 589.55 trillion, about 410.45 trillion SHIB tokens have been burned.

Those tokens have been removed from the circulating supply, making Shiba Inu scarcer. Similar to share buybacks, this often results in price appreciation, as market forces ensure the market capitalization reflects the new supply metrics.

Unique Selling Points (e.g., Use Cases)

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

We found that the most likely meme coins to blow up are those offering a unique selling point (USP).

• For example, Solaxy’s USP is its status as Solana’s first Layer 2 (L2) network.
• Like Ethereum-based L2s like Optimism and Arbitrum, Solaxy will use its proprietary rollup architecture to make Solana more scalable, even when network traffic spikes above everyday levels.
• This solves a major problem: Solana occasionally experiences network congestion, slowdowns, and even failed transactions. These issues degrade the on-chain experience for users and developers, and Solaxy will help eliminate them.

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.

Meme Coin Narratives

Our research shows that narratives also majorly affect meme coin price performance. Narratives are specific trends that increase capital flows. Depending on market forces, they can last weeks or months. Either way, getting in early is crucial to maximizing returns.

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 have meme coin 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 hit meme coin niches, such as cat-themed or political tokens.

Market Capitalization

Market capitalization was also considered when ranking the best meme coins to invest in. This is important from a risk-reward perspective. We covered various valuations to ensure all investor profiles were covered.

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

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

Exchange and Broker Listings

We also analyzed how exchange listings can impact a meme coin’s price potential. Our findings show that meme 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.

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 meme coins.

What Are Meme Coins?

Meme coins are cryptocurrencies fueled by speculation, hype, and trending narratives. The first meme coin, Dogecoin, was launched in 2013. Dogecoin proved that cryptocurrencies don’t always need a specific use case to become mainstream. On the contrary, meme coins can become successful through community building and common objectives.

For example, Dogecoin has amassed millions of long-term holders, including the world’s richest person, Elon Musk. They might not have much utility, but meme coins are globally inclusive. Anyone can buy meme coins, irrespective of budget or nationality. Moreover, meme coins are often tied to specific internet memes or cultural moments, so there’s an emotional aspect.

For example, the most successful meme coins are based on dogs. These include Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, Bonk, dogwifhat, FLOKI, and Baby Doge Coin. The cat-themed narrative is also strong, with market leaders including cat in a dogs world, Mog Coin, Popcat, Toshi, and Mr Miggles.

That said, it’s not just animals that have inspired meme coin trends. The markets often move in cycles, creating meme coins based on real-world events. For example, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE, same ticker as Dogecoin but a separate project) was created in August 2024 when Elon Musk announced his cost-cutting goals.

Similarly, during the 2024 presidential campaign, a wide range of political meme coins blew up, many dedicated to Donald Trump (e.g., MAGA and Doland Tremp). However, this segment of the meme coin market is largely driven by short-term speculation rather than building actual communities.

Otherwise called “shitcoins,” these meme coins can produce explosive growth for several days or weeks before peaking. Traders eventually move on to other meme coin trends, meaning the respective project crashes and never recovers. Identifying these projects and being early investors can be profitable, but more risk-averse investors might prefer long-term meme coins.

For example, Shiba Inu, FLOKI, and other established meme projects continue to build use cases. This includes anything from DeFi tools and play-to-earn games to metaverse real estate. There’s much to learn when exploring the best meme coins. Key factors include your investing goals (e.g., short or long-term, profit targets), preferred strategy, and risk tolerance.

Why Buy Meme Coins?

Meme coins are traded globally by millions of people every day. Read on to learn why this speculative and high-risk marketplace remains so popular.

The Chance to Make Unprecedented Gains

Let’s be clear: While meme coins are inclusive and community-driven, their most popular mechanism is the price potential. Meme coins have historically provided financial returns like no other financial market. Some investors have a higher appetite for risk, so earning 10% annually from the S&P 500 doesn’t suffice.

For example:

• Suppose you were actively trading meme coins in 2020. You noticed a project called Shiba Inu and decided to risk $200.
• Knowing the risks of meme coins, this was money you were prepared to lose.
• You entered the market at the right time in September 2020, catching Shiba Inu’s all-time low of $0.00000000008165.
• About 13 months later, Shiba Inu’s price hit $0.00008845.
• That $200 you risked was worth over $216 million at its peak.

Now, not even the most skilled meme coin traders can predict a project’s all-time lows and highs. However, the key point is that the Shiba Inu price increased 108 million percent in just over a year. This means Shiba Inu made life-changing money for those who invested early.

Let’s look at another example:

• Pricing data shows that Pepe was launched on April 15th, 2023.
• The launch price of $0.00000000001062 aligns with Pepe’s all-time low.
• Pepe hit $0.00002825 in December 2024, returning 266 million percent in just eight months.
• A $200 investment on Pepe’s launch date would have been worth $532 million.

Of course, no investor would hold a $200 investment until it reached hundreds of millions of dollars. Most would have cashed out much earlier. Nonetheless, this is another example of how the top meme coins can create unprecedented wealth.

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 Solaxy, BTC Bull Token, and MIND of Pepe. These projects aren’t listed on exchanges yet, as the presale process is still ongoing. While risky, anyone investing will get the lowest token price possible.

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 meme coins at a discount.

However, there are also meme coin investors with a less patient mindset. They want fast and rapid gains without loyalty or emotional attachment to their investments. This segment is more attracted to shitcoins than meme coins, meaning they only make investments to catch short-term trends.

• Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT), a shitcoin from the Solana ecosystem, is a good example here.
• This meme coin was launched in dedication to Peanut, a pet squirrel who is an internet sensation with a huge Instagram following.
• Peanut was sadly seized and euthanized by New York authorities, causing global outrage.
• Naturally, a wave of meme 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 represent a tiny percentage of the broader market. Never make the mistake of thinking this is the norm. On the contrary, most meme coins fail.

Inclusiveness and Decentralized Wealth Building

We found that meme coins are also popular for their inclusiveness. Anyone can buy meme coins, often without needing to meet any minimum trading requirements. Buying meme coins from DEXs like Uniswap and Raydium adds further benefits, especially for those based in countries with draconian crypto laws.

DEXs offer complete anonymity, considering there’s no account opening process or requirement to upload ID documents (unlike regulated exchanges like Coinbase and Kraken). Another benefit is that meme coins enable investors to build and store wealth away from centralized intermediaries.

Meme coins can be stored in non-custodial wallets, which nobody can access but the investor. This is unlike investing in stocks, which are “held” by custodians like brokerage firms. Similarly, cash is stored with banks and financial institutions, meaning permission is needed when sending or receiving funds.

Meme Coins Can be Traded 24/7 (Some Offer Substantial Liquidity)

All meme coins trade on centralized or decentralized exchanges, which, unlike stock exchanges, never close. Meme coins can be bought and sold 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Mid-to-large cap meme coins are also beneficial for liquidity purposes. These meme coins have sufficient trading volumes, meaning they can be converted to real money at any time.

For example, suppose you’re holding Pepe, which has a market capitalization of several billion dollars. You can easily sell Pepe for Tether (USDT) and other popular cryptocurrencies, before converting them to local currency. The funds can then be withdrawn to a bank account or other convenient payment method.

However, this perk isn’t as readily available when holding micro or small-cap meme coins. These projects have low liquidity levels, so selling can influence the market price, while they can be traded 24/7. Even a modest sell order can mean you get back much less than anticipated.

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 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 coins 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 meme coins from different network ecosystems.

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 coin networks enjoy extended pricing rallies. Owning meme coins from the most popular meme coin ecosystems is a great way to ensure broad market exposure.

Another diversification strategy is to build a 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. The remaining
• 10% could be invested in high-risk, high-return presales like Solaxy, MIND of Pepe, and BTC Bull Token.

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 coins. Read on to ensure you’re fully aware of the loss potential.

Meme Coins are Unregulated

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

Anyone can create and launch a meme coin, meaning there’s no accountability. Now, compare this to regulated securities like stocks. Publicly listed companies must release audited financial statements, hold quarterly earnings calls, disclose insider transactions, and much more.

Plus, there is no consumer protection when buying and selling meme coins 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

Meme coin investing is all about speculation. You’re speculating that the meme coin’s price will increase, allowing you to lock in a profit. However, this is easier said than done. Research shows that most meme coin launches fail. If you purchase a meme coin 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. Check out the image below from CoinMarketCap. It shows meme coins that have generated the biggest losses in the past 24 hours.

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. This should be a reminder that meme coins 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. A malicious smart contract (blockchain contracts backing meme coins, and they’re unique to each project) is created with the sole intention of scamming investors. This could be a smart contract that prevents anyone but the scammers from selling. So, without anyone being able to sell, the token price would only rise.

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 build 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 meme 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 meme 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

An often underreported meme coin risk is the emotional rollercoaster this market presents. It’s common for inexperienced investors to engage in “chart watching,” waking up at night to see how their meme coin investments are performing.

There’s also the addictive nature of meme coins. Investors frequently chase losses, increasing their stakes to try to win some money back. This turns meme coin investing into compulsive gambling.

Pros & Cons of Trading Meme Coins

Let’s summarize the pros and cons of meme coins:

Meme Coin Pros	Meme Coin Cons
Successful meme coin investments can produce significant returns	Meme coins are unregulated, with no consumer protections in place
Meme coins are suitable for short-term trading and long-term investing	The overwhelming majority of meme coins fail, meaning big losses
Anyone can buy meme coins, ensuring inclusiveness	Many meme coins are scams, with honeypots and rug pulls being the most common
The meme coin markets are open 24/7	Meme coin trading can lead to a gambling-like addiction
Most meme coins have low prices, allowing investors to own a large number of tokens	Millions of meme coins exist, making it challenging to pick winning projects

How to Find New Meme Coins Before The Next Bull Run

Finding the best meme coins to buy is a tall order. It’s become increasingly challenging recently, with millions of meme coins being created every month. The good news is that seasoned meme coin 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 meme coin presales (also called ICOs). These fundraising events (see our ICO Calendar) allow investors to purchase new meme cryptocurrencies before they’re added to exchanges. It’s like investing in a stock IPO, but you’re receiving meme coins rather than equity in a company.

The main benefit of presales is that you’re getting in before the broader markets. Being early means a first-mover advantage, translating to a much lower price point. The hope is that the purchased meme 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 presales can mitigate some risks, as only one needs to explode to see gains. Some presales to check out include Solaxy, a layer-2 network for Solana, and MIND of Pepe — a meme coin project that recently soft-launched its first crypto-focused AI agent.

Set up Filters on DEX Aggregation Sites

In addition to presales, the best meme coins 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. You’ll need to create some filters to ensure you focus on projects with certain characteristics.

Otherwise, you’ll be inundated with millions of different tokens, making it impossible to yield any valuable findings. No two investors are alike, so the filters must align with your risk profile and investing goals.

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 higher market capitalization to mitigate the volatility risks.
• Price Performance: This metric can help you find meme coins outperforming the market. You can choose the required timeframe and minimum growth amount. For instance, meme coins have increased by at least 60% in the past 24 hours.

These are just some examples of filters that will help you find the top meme coins. Importantly, ensure you’re only considering 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: Ensure the meme 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 almost always 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 meme coin 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, 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 meme coins before they blow up. Whales typically invest at least six figures, meaning their purchases can greatly impact the meme coin’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 look for meme coins that are witnessing significant increases in trading volume compared to their average. For example, suppose you’re exploring small-cap Solana meme coins. You’ve found a project that averages $500,000 in daily volume. However, that meme coin has seen its volume rise to $2.5 million in the past day.

This shows that interest in the meme coin has skyrocketed. 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 meme coins are paid sponsorships, so it’s best to use a more transparent platform like 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 meme coins that will explode. We found that meme coins with a rapid increase in “mentions” can be a precursor to an impending price rally. Successful meme coins are often born from social media hype and FOMO.

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 meme coin trader requires dedication, risk management, and a solid strategy. Diversification is also important, ensuring your capital is spread across many projects.

Our research shows that established meme coins like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu offer a lower risk-reward ratio, potentially appealing to beginners. However, trending presales like Solaxy, MIND of Pepe, and BTC Bull Token are also worth exploring, especially if you’re interested in the top meme coins in 2025 and more speculative projects.