Meme tokens’ performance signals a ‘risk-on’ market

Return of Meme Token Hype Enlivens Crypto Markets

After a lull, the revival of meme token enthusiasm signals renewed risk appetite in cryptocurrency markets. The surging popularity of tokens like Pepe (PEPE) indicates a shift towards riskier investments following a period of cautious trading.

Data from Artemis reveals that meme tokens are once again outpacing more conventional narratives. During the recent monitoring period, established narratives experienced marginal losses rather than gains, while meme tokens maintained their characteristic high daily returns.

According to Artemis, however, the behavior of meme tokens has gone beyond typical price fluctuations. It suggests a resurgence of risk appetite within the market. "Memes are a clear indicator of risk-on markets due to their high liquidity and attention," observed Artemis analysts.

The market capitalization of meme tokens closely tracked the overall market recovery. These assets benefited from increased trading volumes, boosting their collective market cap by 25% to approximately $50 billion.

Other narratives, such as AI and DePin tokens, also recorded modest gains.

Meme Tokens Dominate Recent Market Performance

According to Dune Analytics, trading older trends and narratives remains risky, particularly if tokens stagnate. Narrative-based tokens have declined by approximately 20% in 2024, with minimal overall gains in the past month.

However, recent gains in meme tokens have primarily benefited the leading assets in the sector. Notably, the Meme 1.0 group outperformed its counterparts and maintained the highest market capitalization. SHIB and DOGE continue to surpass the most successful Meme 2.0 tokens, including PEPE, WIF, and BONK.

Potential Challenges for Meme Tokens

Despite their popularity, meme tokens have been criticized for several reasons. They consume a significant amount of liquidity, which could otherwise be allocated to more utility-driven projects. Additionally, the sheer number of meme tokens created can strain the networks on which they operate.

For instance, Pump.fun has seen the creation of over 1.4 million new tokens since its inception, placing a strain on its network. Meme tokens may be utilizing valuable bandwidth without providing any real value or even a rudimentary product.

Some users have also expressed concerns about the impact of meme tokens on networks such as Arbitrum and Base. The unchecked issuance of tokens could lead to higher fees or delays, even for these high-speed chains.

Rug Pulls and Liquidity Concerns

Rug pulls remain a prevalent issue in the meme token space, particularly in smaller liquidity pools. In recent months, the SLURP token abruptly rug pulled after days of seemingly normal trading.

Furthermore, meme tokens are competing for increasingly scarce liquidity. The vast majority of L2 chains rely on stablecoins from Ethereum or other blockchains to facilitate trading. As meme tokens proliferate, they are siphoning funds away from other sectors of the market.

Conclusion

The meme token craze is currently at near-peak levels. Investors are advised to exercise caution, focusing on established leaders rather than smaller coins. While meme tokens may provide short-term gains, their long-term sustainability remains uncertain.