Origin as a joke or meme: Many start without serious technical innovation. For example, Dogecoin (DOGE) was inspired by the Shiba Inu “Doge” meme.
Community-driven: Their value often comes from hype, social media attention, and celebrity endorsements rather than fundamental utility.
High volatility: Prices can skyrocket quickly (often from viral attention) but can also crash just as fast.
Low cost per token: Meme coins often have huge supplies, making each coin look "cheap" (e.g., fractions of a cent), which can attract retail investors.
Speculative nature: They’re more like high-risk bets than long-term investments.
Examples:
Dogecoin (DOGE) – the original meme coin, created in 2013.
Shiba Inu (SHIB) – branded as the “Dogecoin killer.”
Pepe (PEPE) – based on the Pepe the Frog meme.
Many new meme coins pop up frequently, often on networks like Ethereum, Solana, or Binance Smart Chain.
⚡ Bonus advantage: Futures trading also offers leverage, meaning you can control a larger position with a smaller amount of capital — though this increases both profit potential and risk.