Why Do Chinese Memes Lack Staying Power?
Chinese meme coins on BSC experienced a brief surge in early January 2026, led by tokens like “我踏马来了” (I’m F*cking Coming) and “老子” (Laozi), but quickly lost momentum within days. The rally, initially sparked by a tweet from He Yi (Binance co-founder), reflected a recurring pattern within the BSC ecosystem—dubbed “Shandongology”—where meme tokens gain traction through perceived endorsements from CZ or He Yi, even without direct involvement.
This culture has led to growing community fatigue and internal division. Many participants expressed resistance to what they see as excessive sycophancy, undermining cohesion and diverting attention from organic meme culture. Unlike the October 2025 wave, which attracted global interest and cross-chain engagement, this surge failed to gain significant traction outside Chinese-speaking communities, limiting liquidity and buyer diversity.
Moreover, Chinese meme coins are no longer novel. While they’ve become a recurring category within crypto, their reliance on “Shandongology” and lack of independent cultural identity make them highly susceptible to short-lived hype cycles. Tokens that fail to evolve beyond influencer-driven narratives tend to fade quickly, reinforcing a “pump-and-dump” pattern that shortens each meme cycle.
Odaily星球日报01/13 07:19
