Parallel to Solana’s resurgence, meme coins exploded on Solana — a trend that accelerated in 2024 and 2025.
Solana’s ultra-low fees made it the perfect playground for degens and retail investors who wanted to launch and trade meme coins without spending hundreds of dollars on transaction fees.
Here are some notable meme coins that made multiple X returns:
1.BONK
Launch: Late 2022
Highlight: The first Solana meme coin to gain serious traction, BONK was airdropped to Solana users and projects to kickstart interest.
Performance: BONK rallied over 100x at its peak from the airdrop price.
Impact: Sparked the first real Solana meme coin wave.
2.WIF (Dogwifhat)
Launch: 2023
Highlight: A simple, funny meme of a Shiba Inu wearing a beanie (“dogwifhat”) captured the imagination of Solana users.
Performance: From almost nothing to a top 100 crypto by market cap at its peak, with some early buyers seeing 1000x gains.
Impact: WIF became an iconic meme, representing Solana’s humor and culture.
3.POPCAT
Launch: Early 2024
Highlight: Based on the viral “pop cat” meme, it captured traders’ hearts.
Performance: Some early investors made 300x–500x returns.
Impact: Proved that meme culture isn’t exclusive to Ethereum or Binance Smart Chain.
4.SAMO (Samoyedcoin)
Launch: 2021 (but exploded again during 2024)
Highlight: One of the earliest Solana-based memes, SAMO branded itself as Solana’s mascot.
Performance: Enjoyed massive price surges during the renewed Solana meme coin boom.
Why Meme Coins Thrive on Solana
Several factors make Solana a breeding ground for meme coin culture:
Near-instant transactions and fees often below $0.001.
Retail accessibility: anyone can create a coin without major upfront costs.
Strong community platforms like Solana-based DEXes (Raydium, Jupiter) and NFT marketplaces.
Vibrant culture: Solana users love experimentation, humor, and degen moves.
Conclusion
From a humble beginning to battling massive FUD and rising again stronger, Solana’s journey is one of resilience and innovation.
Now, with the meme coin revolution adding fuel to its growth, Solana isn’t just competing with Ethereum anymore — it’s creating its own unique culture where speed, low fees, and community energy combine to build something new.
As we move deeper into 2025, Solana’s best days might still be ahead — with serious projects and playful memes both finding a home on the world’s fastest major blockchain.