Exploring the Hype Behind the “Shiba Killer” Meme Coin
In the ever evolving world of cryptocurrencies, new meme coins frequently emerge claiming to be the next big thing. One such coin grabbing attention in 2025 is #hawk , a BNB Chain-based meme token that boldly declares itself the “Shiba Inu killer.” With slogans like “Kill Shib” and promises of overtaking SHIB’s market cap, the coin has ignited debate among traders and meme coin enthusiasts. But is this claim realistic, or just another pump-and-dump wrapped in viral marketing?
HAWK was launched in early 2024 on the Binance Smart Chain. It took off with a surge in community interest, fueled largely by aggressive branding and the promise that “no HAWK token will be sold until it surpasses Shiba Inu in market value.” The coin’s entire narrative is built around competing with, and ultimately defeating, $SHIB — one of the most recognized meme tokens in crypto history. During its initial launch phase, HAWK saw explosive price action, with its market cap rising from under $20 million to nearly $500 million in just a few weeks.
However, the hype didn’t last long. Soon after reaching its peak, HAWK experienced a dramatic price crash — dropping over 90% from its all-time high. The reason? A classic meme coin story: too much of the token supply was concentrated in a few wallets, creating fertile ground for a pump-and-dump. Investors who bought in late found themselves holding bags, while early participants exited with profits. This pattern is unfortunately common in the meme coin space, especially for tokens launched without a solid roadmap or clear utility.
Adding to the buzz was the involvement of viral U.S. influencer Haliey “Hawk Tuah” Welch, who was associated with the project through marketing efforts. However, despite public outrage, she was later cleared by regulators like the SEC. Welch stated that she didn’t profit from the token beyond a one-time promotional fee, distancing herself from the financial aspects of the project. Her image and popularity helped push the HAWK coin into the spotlight, but also dragged her into controversy when the project began unraveling.
In contrast, Shiba Inu (SHIB) has proven to be more than just a temporary meme coin. Launched in 2020 as a community experiment and dubbed the “Doge killer” at the time, SHIB evolved into a serious crypto ecosystem. Over the years, it built a massive global community and introduced real use cases — from ShibaSwap (its decentralized exchange) to #nft integration, staking, burn mechanisms, and even plans for a Layer 2 blockchain called Shibarium. It is also widely available on major centralized exchanges, giving it massive exposure and liquidity.
HAWK, on the other hand, has no such infrastructure. Its trading remains mostly confined to decentralized platforms within the Binance Smart Chain ecosystem. There’s no clear team, no published roadmap beyond the kill-SHIB narrative, and no ongoing technical development visible to the public. While it briefly gained attention for its aggressive marketing and low entry price, these factors are not enough to sustain long-term investor confidence.
The truth is, being a “#SHIBKiller ” requires much more than memes and momentum. Shiba Inu has endured bear markets, built out real features, and continues to evolve in ways that appeal to both retail investors and DeFi enthusiasts. It has earned trust over time, something no newly launched meme coin can replicate overnight.
HAWK may have had its moment of fame, and it’s possible the token could enjoy future pumps if marketing kicks back in or celebrity interest returns. But as of now, it stands as a classic example of hype over substance — a flashy launch followed by an equally flashy collapse. Its long-term success will depend on whether the community can transform hype into utility and growth, and whether the project can move beyond just being a SHIB rival in name.
In summary, while HAWK made noise with its anti-SHIB stance and briefly captured the attention of the meme coin world, it lacks the depth, trust, and ecosystem that Shiba Inu has built over the years. The idea of HAWK being a real “Shib killer” is more a marketing gimmick than a market reality. For investors, this story serves as another reminder: don’t follow hype blindly—do your own research, study tokenomics, and understand the risks before buying into any crypto project, especially meme coin.
