How internet culture gave birth to the meme coin
Nowadays, almost everyone recognises a meme, thanks in part to the widespread use of GIFs and viral images in direct messages across platforms like WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook. Yet there was a time when memes existed solely within the fringe corners of the internet – subcultures fuelled by irony, in-jokes, and rapidly evolving references shared among online communities on forums such as 4chan and Reddit. These were spaces where humour often served as both commentary and resistance.
Fast forward to 2025, and this once-niche culture has given rise to an unexpected financial phenomenon: the meme coin. Blurring the lines between satire and speculation, meme coins represent a unique convergence of internet-native humour and decentralised finance. Dogecoin, launched in 2013 as a parody of cryptocurrency hype, was the first to bridge this gap. What began as a joke quickly captured the imagination of online communities, demonstrating the power of digital culture to shape economic behaviour. Since then, numerous other tokens have followed, sparking global interest and speculation. As the space continues to evolve, many now turn their attention to emerging meme tokens to watch, each carrying its own blend of humour, community energy and viral potential.
Internet subcultures and the language of memes
Meme culture thrives on irony, absurdity and rapid transmission. Its language is rooted in collective humour and shared symbols that often originate within niche internet communities. Platforms such as Reddit, Twitter and 4chan have long acted as digital breeding grounds for this form of expression, where users participate in ongoing, self-referential conversations. These subcultures prioritise virality and in-jokes, creating digital tribes united more by tone and timing than ideology. It is within this environment that meme coins first took shape – not as serious financial instruments, but as participatory experiments reflecting the ethos of their creators: playful, subversive and driven by collective momentum.
The birth of dogecoin and the spirit of satire
Dogecoin emerged in 2013 as a satirical response to the growing seriousness of cryptocurrency culture. Created by software engineers Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer, it featured the Shiba Inu dog from the popular “Doge” meme – complete with Comic Sans captions and exaggerated misspellings. This whimsical aesthetic stood in stark contrast to the techno-utopian language surrounding Bitcoin at the time. Rather than presenting itself as a revolutionary financial tool, Dogecoin openly embraced absurdity. Its appeal lay in this irreverence, particularly among online communities disillusioned with the exclusivity and posturing often associated with tech-driven finance. It was a coin created not for profit, but for fun.
From joke to market force: The speculative engine
What began as an internet joke soon morphed into a volatile, yet powerful market force. Meme coins, once dismissed as unserious, captured mainstream attention through viral trends, coordinated community buying sprees – or “pumps” – and high-profile endorsements. Figures such as Elon Musk amplified their reach with cryptic tweets, sending prices soaring and crashing within hours. Platforms like TikTok and Discord played key roles in mobilising collective action, turning humour into speculative frenzy. The line between entertainment and investment blurred. Meme coins, though lacking intrinsic value or traditional utility, began influencing real-world markets, illustrating how internet virality could now move billions in capital with little warning.
Conclusion
Meme coins transcend their function as speculative tokens; they are cultural artefacts reflecting the spirit of a digitally native generation. They embody internet-era identity, collective irony and a challenge to conventional systems of value. Created through shared humour and sustained by online communities, these coins tell stories about rebellion, accessibility and digital belonging. In a world where narratives often shape markets, meme coins serve as proof that community sentiment and cultural context can be as influential as economic fundamentals. Their rise prompts a reconsideration of how value is defined and how digital expression continues to reshape global financial and social dynamics.
The editorial unit
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