Social Media Hype Fuels Memecoins as Regulators and Critics Sound Alarms

Source: [1] Memecoin (MEME) Price | MEME to USD Price and Live Chart (https://www.coindesk.com/price/meme) [2] Memecoin Price: MEME Live Price Chart, Market Cap & News Today | CoinGecko (https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/meme) [3] Memecoin (MEME) is the native ecosystem token of Memeland. Memeland is the web3 venture studio by 9GAG, the globally popular meme platform. (https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/meme/) [4] Trump Memecoin Selloff: $TRUMP Down About 8% Amid Crypto … (https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacheverson/2025/09/23/trump-memecoin-crypto-selloff-melania/) [5] Meme coin - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme_coin) [6] Central African Republic's Trump-style memecoin crashes after launch (https://www.ft.com/content/central-african-republic-memecoin) [7] Argentine Leader Draws Fire After Cratering of Crypto Coin He Promoted (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/15/business/argentina-cryptocurrency-memecoin.html)

---

The memecoin market is experiencing renewed volatility as retail and institutional investors speculate on tokens tied to high-profile figures, internet culture, and geopolitical events. While the sector remains largely unregulated and speculative, recent price movements and market dynamics highlight five tokens with potential for significant short-term gains.

The native token of 9GAG’s web3 platform Memeland, MEME is trading at $0.002602, with a market capitalization of $143 million. The token’s value is driven by its integration with 9GAG’s social media ecosystem, which includes NFT collections and creator monetization tools. Despite its relatively modest market cap, MEME has seen a 0.58% 24-hour gain, buoyed by growing retail interest and social media traction.

Launched by former U.S. President Donald Trump in early 2025, $TRUMP peaked at $27 billion in market value before plummeting to $2.7 billion following a broader crypto selloff. The token, controlled by Trump’s family-owned CIC Digital, remains a political and financial lightning rod. Recent data shows $TRUMP dropped 8% in a single session, eroding $50 million from Trump’s paper wealth. Critics, including lawmakers like Sen. Jeff Merkley, have called for SEC oversight of the coin.

First lady Melania Trump’s memecoin, $MELANIA, debuted in January 2025 but has since lost 90% of its peak value. The token, managed by her firm MKT World, LLC, has drawn scrutiny for its unclear utility and governance structure. A recent 8% decline mirrored broader market trends, though its low liquidity and lack of institutional backing limit its upside potential.

The Central African Republic’s official memecoin, $CAR, launched in February 2025 as a “national development experiment.” The project, promoted by President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, saw its value plummet 95% within days of trading. Despite government-backed endorsements, the coin’s collapse underscored the risks of state-sponsored memecoins, particularly those lacking technical or economic fundamentals.

Argentine President Javier Milei’s memecoin, $LIBRA, surged 500% after its launch but has since lost 80% of its value. Market analysts attribute its initial success to Milei’s populist appeal and his broader economic reforms but note the token lacks tangible use cases. The coin’s volatility has sparked regulatory investigations into potential financial misconduct.

The memecoin sector remains dominated by retail speculation, with tokens like MEME, $TRUMP, and $LIBRA reflecting broader macroeconomic trends. For instance, $TRUMP’s price action correlates with Trump’s political messaging and stock market sentiment. Meanwhile, regulatory uncertainty—particularly in the U.S. and Europe—continues to weigh on investor confidence.

Critics argue that memecoins, by design, lack the utility or governance structures of mainstream cryptocurrencies. “These tokens thrive on social media momentum and celebrity endorsements, not technological innovation,” said a blockchain analyst in a recent report. “Their longevity depends on sustained hype, which is inherently unstable.”

Despite these risks, the sector’s low entry barriers and high volatility attract traders seeking short-term gains. As of early October 2025, MEME’s 0.58% 24-hour rise and $TRUMP’s erratic swings illustrate the market’s potential for rapid, albeit unpredictable, returns. Investors are advised to treat memecoins as high-risk assets and to conduct due diligence on tokenomics and regulatory developments.

---

Source: [1] title1 (url1) [2] title2 (url2) [3] title3 (url3) [4] title4 (url4) [5] title5 (url5) [6] title6 (url6) [7] title7 (url7)