Solana News Today: Solana's Low Fees and Viral Hype Power 2025 Meme Coin Surge

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[11] title11 (https://beincrypto.com/meme-coin-2025-predictions/)

The cryptocurrency market entered 2025 with renewed institutional interest and speculative fervor, particularly in meme coins and altcoins. Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) led broader market optimism, with ETH surging 66.8% in Q3 2025 and SOL climbing 18.4% month-to-date. However, the most dynamic growth emerged in Solana-based meme coins, driven by low transaction fees, viral social media campaigns, and community-driven airdrops.

The Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) token, tied to a popular NFT collection, became the largest Solana memecoin by market cap in August 2025, reaching $2.88 billion. Its success stems from brand extensions, including toy lines and social media virality, alongside a bullish cup-and-handle price pattern. PENGU also gained traction on South Korean exchange Upbit, surpassing Dogecoin (DOGE) in trading volume at times.

Bonk (BONK), a Shiba Inu-themed token, remains Solana's second-largest memecoin. After a 70% rally in July, BONK faced consolidation in August but maintained strong whale accumulation. Analysts highlight its ecosystem of decentralized apps (BONKrewards, BONKbets) and potential ETF-related demand as catalysts for further growth.

Fartcoin (FARTCOIN), launched via Pump.fun in October 2024, gained notoriety for its comedic branding and viral airdrops. By early 2025, it reached a $2.5 billion market cap. In August, FARTCOIN's trading volume surged 18% on breakout moves, with over $500 million exchanged in a single day.

Dogwifhat (WIF), featuring a viral dog-wearing-a-hat meme, rose to a $3.5 billion market cap in Q2 2025. Technical analysis identifies $1.03 as a critical resistance level, with a potential 15% rally if breached. WIF's success is attributed to Solana's low fees and social media-driven community engagement.

Inspired by a viral internet meme, Popcat (POPCAT) surged 18% weekly in August after a Binance.US listing. Its community-driven narrative and recent exchange access fueled bullish sentiment, positioning it as a key contender in Solana's meme ecosystem.

PNUT, inspired by a real-life viral squirrel, achieved a $1 billion market cap in 11 days post-launch in 2024. A social media post by Elon Musk in August boosted its 24-hour trading volume by 150%, underscoring the power of influencer-driven momentum.

Pump.fun's native token (PUMP) dominates Solana's meme-coin launchpad, facilitating over 6 million token creations by mid-2025. In August, PUMP regained market leadership, generating $1 million in daily revenue and launching the Glass Full Foundation to inject liquidity into ecosystem tokens.

The broader market context shows Ethereum and Solana benefiting from institutional ETF inflows and regulatory clarity. Ethereum ETFs and the Ethereum Foundation Treasury now control 3.2% of the total ETH supply, while Solana's TVL grew 198% year-to-date. Analysts note that Solana's 30% monthly increase in tokenized assets and Ethereum's 375,624 active addresses highlight their foundational roles in DeFi.

For meme coins, the key drivers include community engagement, viral narratives, and technical advantages like Solana's high throughput. While short-term volatility remains, institutional adoption and regulatory developments-such as U.S. crypto laws like the GENIUS Act-signal long-term legitimacy for the sector. As the market navigates macroeconomic shifts, these tokens exemplify the evolving intersection of speculation, technology, and social media in crypto.