In 2024, the meme coin market has once again shown its ability to captivate crypto investors. While the more established tokens like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu have maintained their positions, new players such as NEIRO have stunned the market. In just a matter of weeks, NEIRO exploded by over 4,800%, grabbing attention after being listed on Binance. This rapid rise has many speculating on which meme coins could replicate this kind of success this autumn.
The phenomenon surrounding NEIRO highlights the volatility and potential in the meme coin sector. Investors are increasingly attracted to these tokens for their massive upside potential, even though they lack the technological depth of other cryptocurrencies. The success of NEIRO, which peaked at over $844 million in market capitalization in October, has encouraged traders to look for the next breakout star in the meme coin space .
With the surge in popularity of meme coins, several contenders are emerging as potential successors to NEIRO’s remarkable rally. Let’s explore what meme coins are and which seven tokens are positioned to soar next.
What Are Meme Coins?
Rather than conventional elements like technological innovation, meme coins are a class of cryptocurrency derived mostly from viral internet memes and online communities.
Social media buzz, celebrity sponsorships, and the pure excitement of their local communities help these coins become rather famous. Though their funny beginnings, meme coins—as shown by Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and more recently, NEIRO—can show amazing gains.
Usually built on main blockchain systems such as Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain (BSC), meme coins These blockchains let meme coins take use of their security and scalability by means of token issuing, trading, and staking infrastructure. Inspired by Pepe Unchained's Ethereum Layer 2 design, some meme coins also investigate Layer 2 solutions to improve transaction speeds and lower costs.
Why Do Meme Coins Gain Popularity
Meme coins have emerged as one of the most explosive categories within the cryptocurrency market, drawing in speculative traders and retail investors alike. The rise of meme coins can be attributed to several factors that collectively fuel their popularity.
Social Media Influence and Viral Trends
The primary driver behind meme coins is their viral nature, often sparked by social media platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and Reddit. Meme coins, much like internet memes, are propelled by community involvement, jokes, and online trends. For instance, Dogecoin started as a parody of Bitcoin but gained mainstream attention after endorsements from celebrities like Elon Musk . This virality creates a feedback loop where increased attention drives prices up, attracting even more investors.
Low Entry Costs and High Reward Potential
One of the key reasons why meme coins attract such large numbers of investors is their typically low price. For retail traders, meme coins offer an accessible entry point into the world of crypto, with the possibility of high returns on relatively small investments. NEIRO, for example, saw a 4,869% surge in a matter of weeks , turning modest investments into significant profits. This sense of “getting in early” appeals to investors who may feel priced out of established cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Community-Driven Movements
Meme coins often benefit from strong, passionate communities that drive adoption and awareness. This was most evident with Dogecoin’s Reddit community and the so-called “Doge Army,” which played a crucial role in boosting its price during the 2021 bull run. Community-driven tokens can create a sense of belonging and collective action, making their success highly dependent on engagement rather than traditional metrics like technology or utility .
Celebrity Endorsements and Media Attention
Meme coins thrive on attention, and celebrities play a pivotal role in bringing these tokens into the spotlight. Whether it’s Elon Musk tweeting about Dogecoin or famous influencers promoting lesser-known coins, these endorsements often lead to price surges and increased trading volumes. NEIRO’s rise, for instance, was significantly influenced by the media buzz following its Binance listing . This dynamic is unique to meme coins, which rely on the hype cycle far more than established cryptocurrencies.
Speculative FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
A large proportion of meme coin investors are driven by the fear of missing out on the next big thing. With stories of investors turning small amounts into fortunes, like one NEIRO trader turning $16,500 into $1.8 million , many are drawn to meme coins hoping to capture similar gains.
This speculative nature makes meme coins incredibly volatile but also highly attractive during bullish market periods.
Layer 2 and Cross-Chain Developments
As meme coins mature, some projects are beginning to incorporate more advanced blockchain technologies, like Layer 2 solutions. Pepe Unchained, for instance, is built on Ethereum’s Layer 2, which enables faster transactions at lower costs.
This trend toward technological sophistication allows meme coins to maintain high transaction volumes without the prohibitive fees that plagued earlier meme tokens during bull runs, further contributing to their growth.
The combination of viral culture, community support, speculative appeal, and the adoption of more sophisticated blockchain infrastructure makes meme coins a unique asset class that continues to captivate investors, regardless of their intrinsic value. While some may dismiss them as jokes, the massive gains achieved by tokens like NEIRO show that meme coins have the potential to outperform even the most established cryptocurrencies under the right market conditions.
Seven Meme Coins Set to Follow NEIRO’s Success
Rexas Finance (RXS)
Rexas Finance has rapidly emerged as a standout meme coin with a unique twist. Unlike most meme coins driven purely by community hype, Rexas Finance integrates real-world asset (RWA) tokenization into its ecosystem. The token allows users to fractionalize and trade physical assets such as real estate, intellectual property, and commodities.
This utility has helped Rexas gain significant traction in the market, especially among investors looking for meme coins with practical applications.
Rexas Finance debuted in September 2024 with a presale that sold out 60% within a matter of days, indicating strong investor demand. Its current market cap sits at approximately $56 million, and analysts are predicting a 5,700% rise once it officially launches on decentralized exchanges . Rexas Finance has positioned itself to attract both meme coin enthusiasts and more traditional investors, blending humor with utility. This combination could propel it to levels of success similar to NEIRO.
Rexas’s appeal lies not only in its meme coin branding but also in its real-world utility, providing a level of stability in a notoriously volatile market. As more investors become aware of the project’s tokenized asset offerings, Rexas Finance could witness a substantial price surge.
Pepe Unchained (PEPU)
Pepe Unchained is a fresh spin on the well-known Pepe meme coin, but with a major upgrade: it operates on Ethereum’s Layer 2 network. This technological enhancement allows $PEPU to offer lower transaction fees and faster processing times, addressing a critical pain point for many Ethereum-based projects. Launched in June 2024, Pepe Unchained quickly gained popularity during its presale, drawing comparisons to its predecessor due to its viral nature.
The current market cap of Pepe Unchained stands at around $15 million, though this is expected to increase dramatically after its anticipated DEX listing later this year. With its staking rewards and Layer 2 capabilities, $PEPU aims to bring together the best aspects of meme culture and cutting-edge blockchain technology. Investors are keen on this project due to its potential to replicate the success of both Dogecoin and Pepe, especially with community enthusiasm steadily growing. Pepe Unchained offers a low-entry point and high upside potential, appealing to meme coin enthusiasts and tech-savvy investors alike.
Crypto All-Stars (STARS)
Crypto All-Stars stands out by creating a platform that unites all the top meme coins under one ecosystem. The project’s revolutionary staking system, known as the “MemeVault,” allows users to stake various meme coins, including Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and Floki, to earn rewards in $STARS tokens. This unique approach gives $STARS a broader appeal, as it encourages participation from across the meme coin spectrum.
Currently, Crypto All-Stars has raised over $1.5 million in its presale and has a market cap of approximately $10 million. Analysts believe the token has massive potential once listed on a decentralized exchange, especially given the strong community backing and viral presale performance . The MemeVault concept introduces a new layer of utility to the meme coin space, allowing holders to earn passive income through staking. This innovative approach, combined with the token’s low presale price, could set it up for a significant post-listing surge, akin to NEIRO’s recent success.
Flockerz (FLOCK)
Flockerz is pioneering the concept of Vote-to-Earn, a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) model that gives holders a say in the project’s future.
Launched in September 2024, Flockerz encourages its community to actively participate in governance decisions by staking $FLOCK tokens in exchange for voting power and staking rewards. With 25% of its token supply reserved for staking rewards, early adopters have already reaped significant returns from the presale phase.
Flockerz currently boasts a market cap of $22 million, with strong community backing and interest from crypto enthusiasts looking for projects with more user engagement . The innovative Vote-to-Earn mechanism adds a layer of utility that sets Flockerz apart from other meme coins, which often lack long-term value propositions. With governance participation becoming more attractive to decentralized finance (DeFi) users, Flockerz has the potential to follow in NEIRO’s footsteps.
Memebet Token (MEMEBET)
Memebet Token is an intriguing combination of meme coin culture and the rapidly growing online gambling industry. Launched in September 2024, Memebet allows users to gamble on a range of casino games and sports betting platforms using meme coins like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu.
Additionally, holders of $MEMEBET tokens are eligible for exclusive bonuses, loot boxes, and airdrops, further incentivizing participation in the ecosystem.
With a current market cap of $18 million, Memebet Token has quickly captured the attention of both crypto gamblers and meme coin investors . The “GambleFi” aspect of this token makes it stand out in the crowded meme coin space, offering more than just speculative value. As online gambling and play-to-earn (P2E) platforms continue to rise in popularity, Memebet Token has the potential to experience a surge similar to NEIRO.
Worldcoin (WLD)
Although Worldcoin doesn’t fit the traditional meme coin mold, its rapid rise and innovative mission make it a contender worth watching. Worldcoin aims to bring financial inclusion to billions of people through cryptocurrency, utilizing unique iris-scanning technology to create secure and verifiable digital identities. While not as whimsical as Dogecoin or Shiba Inu, Worldcoin has gained significant traction in 2024, particularly due to its real-world applications.
Currently valued at a market cap of $1.2 billion, Worldcoin stands out due to its ambitious mission and real-world use case . Although its technology is more serious than most meme coins, its appeal lies in its community-driven mission, which could make it a sleeper hit in the meme coin space. If Worldcoin manages to tap into the growing demand for decentralized identity solutions, it could see a meteoric rise akin to NEIRO.
Aptos (APT)
While Aptos is technically not a meme coin, it has become increasingly popular within the meme coin ecosystem, thanks to its high-speed Layer 1 blockchain that supports low-latency transactions. Aptos has been actively integrated into several meme coin projects, offering them a scalable and efficient platform.
With partnerships and collaborations expanding within the meme space, Aptos is increasingly becoming a key infrastructure provider for meme coins, enabling fast and cheap transactions.
Aptos has a robust market cap of $5.6 billion, making it one of the largest players in this space . Its role as a facilitator for meme coins positions it well for growth, as more meme coin projects look for scalable solutions to accommodate higher transaction volumes. If Aptos continues to gain adoption in the meme coin community, it could ride the wave of the meme coin boom, benefiting from the explosive growth in the sector.
Disclaimer: This article offers educational only information; it should not be regarded as legal or financial advice. When handling crypto assets, always do your own investigation or speak with a professional.