138 meme coins take off in April 2024, Which will be next PEPE?

The Rise of Meme Cryptocurrencies

The meme cryptocurrency phenomenon, which surged during the bull run of 2020-2021, has evolved into a significant trading category within the industry. Initially dominated by tokens like Dogecoin (DOGE), Shiba Inu (SHIB), and FLOKI, the period from 2023-2024 witnessed an influx of new meme cryptos.

Surge in New Meme Coins

A recent report attributed the proliferation of new meme coins in the past two years to increased accessibility through the deployment of ERC-20 tokens. This process has become more user-friendly, leading to a surge in the number of meme coins launched. In April 2024, CoinMarketCap registered 138 new meme coins, a significant increase from the 18 launched in April 2023.

Alternative Chains and New Standards

The high gas fees on the Ethereum blockchain have encouraged some meme coin activity to shift to alternative chains such as Solana. Other chains have also emerged as platforms for emerging cryptos, offering meme grant programs to incentivize development.

While ERC-20 remains the dominant standard for fungible tokens, new standards like BRC-20 have emerged on different EVM chains. Additionally, standards such as BRC-721 and DN404 have introduced diversity in token types.

The recent introduction of Runes on Bitcoin demonstrates the growing trend of meme cryptos expanding beyond Ethereum.

Challenges and Opportunities

With the proliferation of coins across multiple chains and standards, identifying the next potential breakout meme coin has become increasingly challenging. Many of these new meme coins are likely to fail, emphasizing the need for diversification for investors seeking exposure to this space.

Striking a balance between diversification and concentration is crucial. Limited diversification can expose investors to significant risks, while excessive diversification may dilute potential gains and increase the likelihood of errors.

Market Overview

The meme-based cryptocurrency market capitalization has experienced a slight increase over the past day, reaching $55.6 billion. Total 24-hour trading volume stands at $5.14 billion. Dogecoin (DOGE) has gained 12% in the past 7 days and is currently trading at an average price of $0.15.