# why meme coins matter

By [casual crypto](https://paragraph.com/@casualcrypto) · 2024-11-08

meme coins, meme

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I admit, I was a skeptic at first seeing people buy images of spinning cats and dogs with hats. I wondered to myself, why? It felt…..dumb. At first…

The longer you are around crypto the more you realize that rational goes completely out of the window when you have the opportunity to make life changing money. And I am started to understand why because you see, meme coins offer something that we don’t get with other coins and with traditional financial assets, **a fair opportunity**.

We have heard about those putting in less than $10 and coming out a millioniare just a few short months later. And for generations you more or less needed to be an insider or involved with wall street to find high value opportunities like this. These opportunities are often gated behind privilege, education, and wealth. But meme coins are the opposite because they are accessible to the every day person giving a real shot at life changing money.

**A brief history of meme coins**
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Meme coins started as a joke, a parody of traditional finance that was never supposed to be taken seriously. But humans are not rational. Take Dogecoin, for example, it was created in 2013 as a playful nod to Bitcoin, featuring the famous Shiba Inu dog meme and poking fun at the explosive growth of cryptocurrency. What no one saw coming was that people would see something in Dogecoin that resonated beyond the joke. Because of this, what started as a laughable token turned into a huge community rocket that completely took off, sparking a wave of countless meme coins. Today, we have everything from Shiba Inu to Pepe tokens, each bringing its own style to this new crypto market. It’s a perfect reminder that in the world, you never know what might catch fire.

**What makes meme coins so exciting?**
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One reason for the love of meme coins is the community. Every established meme coin has this and it brings people together for things like a shared joke, a fun project, or even a cultural movement. Many of those who decide to invest feel a real connection to others and enjoy the camaraderie. This sense of belonging is something you rarely get when buying shares in a large corporation like Netflix and Apple, where you’re just one of many faceless investors.

Another reason is the potential for exponential growth_._ Because meme coins are often super cheap, they give investors a chance to buy in without spending a lot, and they can attract a huge number of buyers who are hoping the coin “goes to the moon.” For a relatively small investment, there’s the chance of extraordinary gains, something that appeals to people who can’t afford to take big risks with large amounts of money but are still excited by the idea of a financial breakthrough.

**Why meme coins matter in the crypto space**
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Critics dismiss meme coins as “jokes” with no real-world value, but they’ve actually helped expand the crypto ecosystem. Can you believe that? Meme coins attract new investors who otherwise would dismiss the space and the opportunities. They also create an entry point for new people to learn about blockchain, digital wallets, and trading. All without the complexity that often comes with more established coins.

**Risks and Reality Check**
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Let’s be real here for a second, meme coins are fun but they come with some serious risks. Unlike established cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum, meme coins normally offer 0 intrinsic value, making them far more susceptible to wild price swings. Up 300% one day, down $0.00 3 hours later. We’ve all seen the stories of “pump and dump” schemes, where prices skyrocket only to come crashing down seconds later, leaving those who were later to the party leaving with empty bags. While the idea of a quick payday is real, the downside is just as steep.

As meme coins continue to make waves, the big question is if they could evolve into something more. In the end, meme coins might not all succeed or hold value in the long term. But they’ve undeniably changed the game, giving people a new path into the world of crypto and a chance to participate in a financial movement that, until now, was completely out of reach.

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*Originally published on [casual crypto](https://paragraph.com/@casualcrypto/why-meme-coins-matter)*
