The rise of Studio Ghibli-themed memecoins has taken the internet by storm

The frenzy began following Sam Altman's announcement of ChatGPT-4o's new image generation capabilities for paid subscribers

The rise of Studio Ghibli-themed memecoins has taken the internet by storm, fueled by the growing popularity of AI-generated anime art on social media.

According to CoinMarketCap, tokens such as GhibliCZ, Shibli Inu, and Ghibli Doge have been gaining attention but concerns over scams and potential financial losses loom large.

Among these tokens, Ghiblification (GHIBLI), a Solana-based token, has drawn the most interest since its reported launch on March 26.

Market data shows that GHIBLI achieved a valuation of $31.24 million (approximately Rs. 266 crore) by March 28, trading at $0.02998 (around Rs. 2.5) after surging 46.5 percent in just 24 hours.

With over 999 million GHIBLI tokens in circulation and a maximum supply capped at one billion, the token has been listed for trading on major exchanges including Kraken, Gate.io, and BingX.

The emergence of Ghibli-themed tokens can be linked to the viral spread of Ghibli-style AI art across platforms like Instagram and X.

According to a report by Blockware Solutions, users have been sharing digital artworks that resemble the distinctive style of the animation studio, known for its critically acclaimed films like Spirited Away (2001), Grave of the Fireflies (1998), and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013).

High-profile figures have also joined the trend, further amplifying its reach.

Elon Musk recently posted a Ghibli-style image of himself holding a Shiba Inu dog against a Lion King - themed backdrop - an image that resonated with the crypto community due to the Shiba Inu’s association with popular tokens like Dogecoin (DOGE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB).

Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) also contributed to the trend by updating his profile picture on X in Ghibli style, while White House crypto advisor David Sacks shared a Ghibli-themed illustration featuring himself and former President Donald Trump.

While the memecoin craze has sparked excitement, it also presents significant risks. The majority of these tokens are created by anonymous developers, making it difficult to assess their credibility.

Only investors equipped with advanced Web3 tools can attempt to verify these tokens’ legitimacy, underscoring the potential for scams and financial pitfalls.

Sam Altman addressed the immense interest in AI-generated Ghibli art, noting on March 28 that OpenAI's GPUs are struggling to keep up with demand.

As a temporary measure, Altman announced that rate limits would be implemented to enhance efficiency. Additionally, the free tier of ChatGPT-4o will soon offer users three generations per day.

With platforms like X's Grok offering free Ghibli-style image generation tools, the trend shows no signs of slowing down. However, investors are urged to exercise caution amid the ongoing hype surrounding Ghibli-themed tokens.