The revival of the MEME sector this time is definitely not a simple replay of the past. There are three signals worth paying attention to: retail risk appetite is rebounding, liquidity is spilling out from mainstream coins, and narratives are rotating. You can try a small position on World Cup theme coins, but never use old experience to bottom-fish. Proper risk control is the foundation for survival.

**What Does the Explosive Growth of MEME Coins Indicate**

Retail risk preference is like a thermometer; the performance of MEME coins best reflects the true market temperature. During the 2021 cycle, the 2023 cycle, and the early stage of the 2025 bull market, MEME coins were always the first to emerge and set the pace. Essentially, this means: funds are shifting from "big dishes" like Bitcoin and Ethereum to higher volatility assets.

Interesting things happened at the end of 2025. The total market cap of MEME coins shrank from $150.6 billion to $47.2 billion. The recent rebound at the start of the new year is not just about bottom-fishing. The BONK hype in the Solana ecosystem has picked up, and the PEPE community has become more active. This is the result of a super-bear correction colliding with new stories, not just pure gambling mentality.

Leading coins are supported by real players. BONK is backed by Solana’s inherent activity, the community stickiness of PEPE and DOGE, and relatively low circulating supply. These fundamentals help them stand firmer. But most MEME projects are in trouble—98.5% of new coins have a market cap below $50,000. The tricks to pump and dump are countless.

**Don’t Repeat the Mistakes of 2021**

In 2021, DOGE skyrocketed on Elon Musk’s tweet, and retail investors went crazy—pure emotion trading, which ultimately retraced over 90%. In 2023, a different approach emerged: BRC-20 tokens appeared, with anti-VC narratives that are very attractive. BONK, supported by on-chain infrastructure, is indeed a bit different. The current situation is a mix of old and new stories. If you still use the same tactics from three or four years ago, there’s a 90% chance you’ll be the bag-holder.