The cryptocurrency market has seen a new addition with the launch of Donald Trump’s meme coin, $TRUMP. Announced on January 17 with a post on X, the coin has seen an impressive debut, quickly amassing a market cap of nearly $5.5 billion and tripling in value within hours. However, despite this initial success, cryptocurrency experts are raising concerns about the sustainability of the coin, highlighting the volatile nature of meme coins.
Meme coins, as the name suggests, are cryptocurrencies that derive their value from short-term internet memes and trends. These coins are known for rapid fluctuations in value, and according to experts at BinaryOptions.com, $TRUMP is no exception. While early investors may stand to benefit from the coin’s quick rise, its value is expected to decline as the initial hype fades.
These concerns are further fueled by recent incidents, such as Ryan Fournier’s TIKTOK meme coin, which saw a drastic decline from $90 million to $5 million amidst accusations of a rug-pull scheme.
Andre Witzel, a cryptocurrency expert at BinaryOptions.com, advises against high expectations for $TRUMP's long-term performance. “Meme coins often rise and fall sharply based on social media trends. While $TRUMP has gained traction due to Donald Trump’s political prominence, its long-term sustainability remains uncertain,” Witzel said. He also highlighted the growing skepticism surrounding meme coins, especially in light of past rug-pull schemes, such as Haliey Welch’s $HAWK coin, which saw a loss of 95% in value shortly after its release.
Despite these challenges, Trump’s timing for launching $TRUMP appears to be strategic. After being sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on January 20, Trump's visibility has drawn significant attention to his cryptocurrency venture. However, experts continue to advise caution, encouraging potential investors to conduct thorough research before joining the $TRUMP bandwagon.
In light of the growing interest in meme coins, BinaryOptions.com undertook a study to identify the most viral meme coins of all time. Dogecoin, which was launched in 2013 and is widely considered to be the first-ever meme coin, topped the list with 1.6 million average monthly searches. Despite its satirical origins, Dogecoin boasts a market cap of $50.44 billion, thanks to endorsements from Elon Musk and its acceptance as a payment method by Tesla and SpaceX.
Shiba Inu coin ranked second with 526,050 average monthly searches. Also released in 2020, SHIB has seen a surge in value, which has also been linked to Musk’s influence. The coin currently holds a market cap of $11.8 billion.
PEPE coin, which is inspired by the viral Pepe the Frog meme, secured third place with 63,900 average monthly searches and a market cap of $6.27 billion.
Bonk coin, known for its Shiba Inu mascot, ranked fourth with 55,450 searches and a market cap of $2.16 billion.
While meme coins continue to captivate investors with their viral appeal, experts caution against getting swept away by the hype and overlooking the risks. As is the case with $TRUMP, the excitement surrounding these coins can often overshadow their inherent volatility, making it crucial for investors to approach with vigilance.