Memecoins: Major Memes and How Much You Should Invest

The cryptocurrency market attracts thousands of investors globally every day, and one of the main factors drawing them in today is memecoins. These digital tokens, which are often inspired by internet humour and pop culture, have gained immense traction over the past few years. With total cryptocurrency market capitalisation exceeding $3 trillion, memecoins represent a small yet vibrant niche, powered by community enthusiasm, social media trends, and online hype.

Whether you’re drawn to the excitement or looking to diversify beyond major coins like Bitcoin or Ethereum, it’s important to understand how memecoins work and the risks involved before investing.

What Are Memecoins?

Memecoins are cryptocurrencies born from internet memes, jokes, or viral trends. Unlike traditional altcoins, which focus on innovation or utility, memecoins are driven largely by community sentiment and entertainment value. Their appeal often lies in their fun, relatable imagery like dogs, frogs, or satirical figures, something that resonates with online culture.

Most memecoins are launched on existing blockchains such as Ethereum, BNB Chain, or Solana, which enables quick creation and low transaction costs. However, their prices fluctuate wildly, influenced by social media hype, celebrity endorsements, and viral movements rather than fundamentals like technology or adoption.

While a few projects such as Shiba Inu’s decentralised exchange (ShibaSwap) add limited functionality,  most memecoins remain speculative assets designed more for amusement than long-term value.

Top Memecoins in October 2025

The memecoin landscape has evolved significantly since Dogecoin (DOGE) pioneered the trend in 2013. Here are the leading memecoins by market capitalisation as of October 2025:

1. Dogecoin (DOGE): The original memecoin, with a market capitalisation of approximately $31 billion and a price of $0.2058. It is supported by ongoing community initiatives and occasional high-profile mentions.
2. Shiba Inu (SHIB): Often called the Dogecoin killer, it boasts a market capitalisation of around $6.2 billion at $0.00001055 per token. With a 2.07 percent daily gain, it benefits from developments like its own decentralised exchange.
3. Pepe (PEPE): Inspired by the Pepe the Frog meme, this coin holds a market capitalisation of about $3 billion, trading at $0.000007258. It has risen 2.37 percent recently, appealing to those nostalgic for internet culture.
4. Pudgy Penguins (PENGU): Featuring adorable penguin imagery, it has a market capitalisation of $1.5 billion at $0.02516. It has climbed 8.33 percent, leveraging NFT integrations for added appeal.
5. Bonk (BONK): Built on Solana, this dog-themed coin has a market capitalisation of $1.2 billion dollars, priced at $0.00001502. It shows a 3.67 percent increase, known for its fast transactions.
6. Official Trump (TRUMP): A politically satirical token with a market capitalisation of $1.2 billion at $6.12. It has edged up 0.39 percent, tied to ongoing public discourse.
7. FLOKI (FLOKI): Named after Elon Musk's dog, it has a market capitalisation of 697 million dollars at 0.00007314 dollars, up 5.11 percent, with efforts towards gaming and finance features.

Other notable mentions include Kekius Maximus, which surged dramatically following endorsements, and political variants like Jeo Boden or Doland Tremp. These examples show how memecoins merge pop culture, satire, and speculation to capture investor attention.

Influence, Hype, and Risks

Celebrity influence plays a pivotal role in memecoin price movements. Figures like Elon Musk have repeatedly fuelled massive rallies, most notably through his support of Dogecoin and references like Kekius Maximus on X, which led to short-term spikes of over 4,000%.

However, such volatility underscores the high-risk nature of memecoins. Their value can plummet just as quickly as it rises, often disconnected from any tangible use case.

Common risks include:

1. Extreme volatility: Prices can swing dramatically within hours.
2. Scams and rug pulls: Developers may abandon projects after artificially inflating prices.
3. Regulatory uncertainty: Authorities increasingly monitor fraudulent activity, yet memecoins often remain unregulated.
4. Security threats: Wallet hacks and phishing scams are frequent in this sector.

In short, memecoins rely heavily on hype rather than fundamentals, making risk management and caution essential.

Also read: Altcoins or Memecoins? How to Choose the Right Crypto for You

How Much Should You Invest?

Experts widely agree that memecoins should form only a small part of your portfolio. As speculative assets, they are best treated as high-risk, high-reward ventures rather than serious investments.

A prudent rule is to allocate no more than 1–5% of your total crypto portfolio to memecoins, money you can afford to lose entirely. Beginners should start small, diversify across a few projects, and focus on research before committing funds. Look for:

1. Strong community activity and engagement
2. Transparent tokenomics and project details
3. Consistent development updates

Listings on reputable exchanges like Giottus, which support popular memecoins such as DOGE and SHIB in INR

If you’re risk-averse, consider broader crypto ETFs or top altcoins for more stable exposure to the market.

Memecoins remain a fascinating yet speculative corner of cryptocurrency investing as of 2025. They blend humour, culture, and community energy but lack long-term fundamentals. While some projects may evolve with added utility, most remain driven by trends and social media buzz.

For investors, the key is balance, enjoy the fun, but stay disciplined. Keep exposure minimal, monitor market sentiment, and remember: in the world of memecoins, excitement can be profitable but only if managed wisely.

Disclaimer: Crypto products and NFTs are unregulated and can be highly risky. There may be no regulatory recourse for any loss from such transactions. Please do your own research before investing and seek independent legal/financial advice if you are unsure about the investments.