Five Meme Coins Below $1 Gain Momentum as Community Hype and Shiba Inu's 10% TVL Surge Drive Volatility

In July 2025, five meme coins—Dogecoin (DOGE), Shiba Inu (SHIB), Pepe (PEPE), Bonk (BONK), and Floki (FLOKI)—remain below $1, drawing renewed market attention due to their low valuations and dynamic community engagement. These tokens, often dismissed as speculative assets, have demonstrated resilience amid broader crypto market fluctuations, with on-chain activity and social media trends amplifying their volatility [1]. Community-driven initiatives, led by figures such as Dogecoin’s Billy Markus and Shiba Inu’s Shytoshi Kusama, continue to shape their trajectories through transparency efforts via platforms like Twitter and Discord [1].

The meme coin sector has seen surges in daily trading volumes exceeding $1 billion for select tokens, driven by grassroots marketing and pop culture tie-ins. Shiba Inu’s ecosystem, for instance, reported a 10% increase in total value locked (TVL) following recent decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) proposals, as tracked by on-chain analytics platforms [1]. Analysts highlight the interplay between narrative-driven hype and technical fundamentals, noting that meme coins often serve as barometers for broader market sentiment. Arthur Hayes, former CEO of BitMEX, emphasized this dynamic in a July 2025 statement: “Memecoins under $1 are capturing outsized attention—don’t underestimate the power of narrative in a market seeking volatility” [1].

Despite their popularity, these tokens remain highly speculative. Price movements are frequently tied to social media chatter, celebrity endorsements, and meme-driven virality, creating a feedback loop that exacerbates short-term swings. Ethereum and Solana networks have also experienced ripple effects, with increased transaction volumes on Layer 1 protocols coinciding with meme coin rallies. This interconnectedness underscores how niche projects can influence larger blockchain ecosystems, though risks persist for retail investors lacking deep-chain expertise [1].

Projects continue to prioritize engagement through open-source platforms like GitHub and community forums, with developers frequently updating whitepapers and roadmap milestones. However, critics caution that without tangible utility or institutional adoption, meme coins may struggle to sustain long-term value. The July 2025 landscape thus reflects a market segment where speculation and creativity collide, offering both opportunities and challenges for crypto participants.

Source: [1] [Top 5 Meme Coins Under $1 in July 2025] [https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/68881ce7ee68857097c352d0/]