Memecoin Market Cap Plunges by $100 Billion in 2025, CoinGecko Report
In 2025, the memecoin market capitalization plummeted by over $100 billion, according to a report by CoinGecko titled "2025 State of Memecoins." The decline began at the start of the year, coinciding with controversial token launches, including those of TRUMP, supported by Donald Trump's team, and LIBRA, which was promoted using the image of Argentine President Javier Milei without consent.
The total market cap of memecoins had surged to a record $150 billion at the beginning of 2025, tripling the previous peak from the 2021 crypto bull run. This growth was fueled by platforms like Pump.fun, which facilitated the daily launch of thousands of new tokens. Dozens of these memecoins were even listed on major exchanges, including Binance and the typically cautious U.S.-based Coinbase.
However, from the end of January and throughout the year, the sector's combined capitalization fell sharply, dropping to $47.2 billion by November. The report notes that despite the emergence of thousands of new tokens, the majority of the market's value remains concentrated in the "old guard" of memecoins: DOGE, SHIB, and PEPE.
The report also highlights the "dark side" of the memecoin ecosystem, detailing prevalent fraudulent schemes such as "rug pulls" (sudden liquidity withdrawal), "sniping" (bot-driven instant token buys at launch), "bandling" (creating fake buy pressure), fake copies of popular tokens, and "honeypots" (tokens that become unsellable after purchase). The launch of the TRUMP token is identified as a pivotal event after which the market began its almost continuous downward trajectory.
RBK-crypto12/26 15:59
