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For meme coin projects, 2024 was a year of tremendous volatility, characterized by sharp declines, quick expansion, and well-publicized scandals.
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Top meme coins in 2024
This year was full of successes and setbacks for both meme coin investors and aficionados. From startling rug pulls to the emergence of AI-powered meme currencies, these tokens delivered on this erratic cryptocurrency market’s high-risk, high-reward nature.
The market capitalization of meme coins increased steadily, picking up steam starting in March. November sees a notable spike in value, which corresponds with significant occasions like the US presidential election and a resurgence of interest in speculative assets.
By Jan. 2025, the market capitalization has consolidated to $101.32 billion from its December peak of almost $160 billion. Indicating increased activity and investor participation in the sector, the trade volume also had an exceptional year-over-year gain of 865.15%.
In this article, we will discuss the best meme coins of 2024, which may also come in the top meme coins list of 2025, if the bull market continues to roar this year as well.
1. Dogecoin
Dogecoin (DOGE) has been the standard for meme coins for a long time, and its supremacy continued into 2024. Following Elon Musk’s amusing endorsement of a fake “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) as part of the November U.S. election hype, the coin saw a spectacular surge. After this incident, DOGE increased 160% in a matter of weeks, from $0.15 to an annual high of $0.39.
With a market valuation of $48.6 billion by the end of 2024, DOGE had solidified its position as the top meme coin. A growing number of collaborations and integrations with payment systems, such as Tesla’s online store and other charitable endeavors that accept DOGE, contributed to this increase in value.
At the moment, DOGE is trading at $0.33, as of Jan. 2, 2025. With ambitions for greater usefulness in micropayments and wider merchant adoption, analysts are upbeat about its chances for 2025. DOGE stays at the top of the meme coin craze thanks to its active community and celebrity endorsements.
2. Shiba Inu
The second position in the best meme coins of 2024 also belongs to a dog-themed token, known as Shiba Inu (SHIB). Known as the “Dogecoin killer,” Shiba Inu demonstrated its tenacity in 2024 by emerging as a top-performing meme coin. In the second quarter of the year, SHIB saw a sharp surge, peaking at $0.000013, a 120% gain from its Jan. 2024 price of $0.000006. Developments in the Shiba Inu ecosystem, such as the introduction of Shibarium, its layer-2 scaling solution, and the growing use of SHIB as a payment token, were credited with this expansion.
At the moment, SHIB is one of the top 15 cryptocurrencies by market cap, with a total market capitalization of $12.9 billion. Despite market instability, it remained relevant because of its strong community support and steady release of ecosystem improvements.
The current price of SHIB is $0.00002201, highlighting a 4.3% increase from the past day, as of Jan. 2, 2025. In 2025, SHIB’s place in the cryptocurrency market might be cemented with the launch of further utility-focused initiatives like ShibaSwap and Shiba Inu metaverse integrations. If the ecosystem reaches important adoption milestones, analysts anticipate another possible rally.
3. Pepe
The third token on our meme coins list is Pepe (PEPE). The token’s explosive growth in 2024 rocked the meme coin scene. Leveraging the success of the “Pepe the Frog” meme, PEPE attracted a lot of attention, particularly in Q1 of 2024, when it jumped by more than 1,122% and reached its highest point ever in April at $0.00002614. Viral marketing efforts and its use in decentralized exchanges were the main drivers of its growth.
Despite having no inherent worth or established purpose, PEPE drew a devoted following and high trading volume, becoming among the top 5 meme coins by market capitalization at almost $8.5 billion. Since then, PEPE has leveled off, and as of Jan. 2, 2025, it is trading at $0.00002024.
The ability of its community to maintain interest and possibly bring in new use cases will determine the coin’s destiny. Despite being extremely speculative, some investors view PEPE as a representation of meme coin culture, which might lead to a comeback in 2025 if comparable viral patterns materialize.
4. Bonk
The most notable Solana-based meme coin that made the news in 2024 was Bonk (BONK). BONK’s goal of decentralizing Solana (SOL) ownership struck a chord with users when it was first introduced as a token for the Solana community.
Midway through 2024, BONK saw a surge of more than 291%, reaching a peak of $0.0000045 after the introduction of its native decentralized exchange, BonkSwap.
The project is a distinct competitor in the meme coin market because of its focus on community governance and decentralized development. With a market cap of almost $2.37 billion at the time of writing, BONK was still one of the most traded meme currencies on Solana even though it cooled off in Q3.
BONK is currently trading at $0.00003081. The performance of BonkSwap and how well it integrates into the larger Solana ecosystem will determine its potential in 2025. Analysts think that if Solana keeps expanding as a blockchain platform, BONK might pick up steam again.
5. Floki
Floki’s (FLOKI) ecosystem-focused strategy has made it a strong contender in the meme currency market. Motivated by Elon Musk’s Shiba Inu pet, FLOKI set itself apart in 2024 by completing important projects including Valhalla, a play-to-earn metaverse game, and FlokiFi, its DeFi suite. Due to these changes, FLOKI’s price increased 400% throughout the year, reaching a peak of $0.00009 in September.
By December, Floki’s market capitalization had grown to $1.6 billion, indicating a high level of investor confidence. It has been able to expand its community and connect to other ecosystems thanks to its dual blockchain compatibility with Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain.
With a current price of $0.0001827, FLOKI has the potential for an additional increase in 2025. It might differentiate itself in the meme coin market with the introduction of more utility initiatives and the growth of its metaverse products.
6. Popcat
Popcat (POPCAT) became one of the best new meme coins in 2024 after being influenced by the widespread “Popcat clicking” meme. The project’s simplicity and capacity to connect with fans of online culture helped it acquire traction.
The market value of the coin was only $50 million in the first quarter of 2024, but by December, it had grown by an astounding 2,300% to over $1.2 billion. Popcat’s NFT collection was introduced at the same time as this increase, which helped make it more widely accepted and well-liked by retail investors.
Midway through November, the coin had its biggest rally, driven by a surge of social media excitement. When its price surged from $0.00001 to $0.00005, early adopters received enormous profits. Popcat’s market capitalization is $788 million as of January 2, 2025, and its current price is $0.8024.
With plans to further gamify its ecosystem by launching blockchain-based mini-games connected to the token, Popcat has a lot of promise for 2025. Popcat might continue to be relevant in the meme coin market and possibly go through another bullish period if these initiatives are successful in drawing in a wider audience.
7. Brett
When Brett (BRETT) was first introduced in early 2024, it immediately became a notable meme coin with rapid growth. With the help of effective social media marketing, BRETT captivated investors and, three months after its debut reached a market valuation of $1.32 billion. The price of the token increased by more than 900% by June and hit an all-time high of $0.23 in July.
BRETT’s hilarious branding and dedication to community-driven decision-making are what make it appealing. Both long-term holders interested in the coin’s roadmap and retail traders looking for rapid gains were drawn to this strategy. By the end of 2024, BRETT was still one of the best-performing meme currencies, with a $1.18 billion market value and a $0.12 price.
With a price of $0.13 as of Jan. 2, 2025, BRETT continues to have considerable community support. According to analysts, how well the token’s intended staking and gaming interfaces are implemented will determine how well it performs in 2025. BRETT may be in a position to grow even more in the upcoming year if it can maintain its community while growing its environment.
8. Book of Meme
After launching its decentralized platform for new meme coin projects in Q2, Book of Meme (BOME), a speculative favorite in 2024, saw tremendous growth. In just six months, BOME’s value surged by more than 1,500%, reaching a peak of $0.00025 in August. The idea that BOME might serve as a “launchpad” for the upcoming generation of meme tokens drove this expansion.
With a market valuation of $454 million at the moment, BOME was among the top 10 meme coins of 2024, despite considerable fluctuation. Investor interest was maintained by its distinctive value proposition and active community.
BOME is now selling at $0.00659 as of January 2025. Looking ahead, the token’s success in 2025 depends on how well its fundraising platform continues to function and how well it can draw in further meme coin launches. With the correct alliances and ecosystem advancements, BOME may be able to keep growing.
9. Fartcoin
In 2024, Fartcoin became well-known for its comical strategy, which offered a humorous perspective on the meme coin market. The coin attracted attention with its distinctive concept and branding, but had no particular use outside of community involvement.
FARTCOIN saw notable growth in Q3 and reached a market valuation of $1.25 billion in 2024. It reached its highest price of $1.29 at the end of the year. The current price of Fartcoin is $1.26 as of Jan. 2, 2025. The project’s community involvement and meme-driven appeal continue to be key factors in its potential for future growth in 2025.
10. Myro
In 2024, the Solana-based meme coin Myro surfaced and immediately attracted the interest of the cryptocurrency community. To create a community for fans of Solana, the token is associated with a distinctive branding campaign featuring Raj Gokal’s dog.
Throughout 2024, MYRO had remarkable growth, culminating in a market valuation of $68 million at the conclusion of the year. The price as of Jan. 2, 2025 is $0.06795. MYRO’s continuous use and possible integration into the Solana ecosystem will be crucial to its future.
Looking back at the best meme coins of 2024
In summary, the best meme coins of 2024 were characterized by notable expansion, community-driven projects, and volatility. Even though a lot of these coins saw significant increases in value, their survival will rely on ongoing development, community involvement, and connection with wider blockchain ecosystems.
The capacity of these meme coins to stay relevant and find practical uses as we approach 2025 will be crucial to their success and will pave the way for the upcoming wave of meme currency prospects. While remaining cautious, investors should keep an eye out for long-term potential in some tokens.
This article first appeared at crypto.news
