GuShiio.com Original title: The Cultural Soul of Memecoins
Original author: Mannay
Compiled by: Azuma, Odaily Planet Daily
Let’s get straight to the point. Memecoin and shitcoin are two completely different things.
memecoin-free and unrestrained collective resonance derived from Internet culture;
shitcoin-short, speculative, lacking soul;
Confusing the two is not only a semantic error, but also a cultural imbalance.Calling a token like TRUMP or LIBRA memecoin is like mistaking a shadow for the moon.
“Meme spreads like a virus from one brain to another-Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gene (1976)”
From Dawkins ‘definition of meme as a “cultural unit” to the birth of DOGE in 2013, memecoin has become the intersection of Internet culture and decentralized finance. The most important thing now is thatDistinguish true memecoin-cultural products derived from community humor, shared values, and organic communication-from shitcoin, which is designed to take advantage of speculative fanaticism.Conflating the two is not just a semantic error, it also undermines the cultural foundation that makes memecoin so charming. Memecoin is a story that can be traded as an asset, and its value is just a by-product of collective belief.
Memes are not static images or jokes: they are cultural genes that can mutate and spread through human interaction. Dawkins ‘metaphor in 1976 described meme as a “selfish replica” vying for dominance in the attention economy. Memecoin like DOGE or PEPE also reflects this evolutionary process:
A meme (such as DOGE) mutates into a token, gaining financial utility while retaining its cultural DNA.
Communities as ecosystems amplify memes that resonate with shared values (humor, rebellion, nostalgia).
Blockchain infrastructure accelerates the replication process and can generate more than 40000 memecoins per day.
Unlike shitcoin, which lacks cultural adaptability, memecoin thrives by embedding collective memory. They also connect two eras of Internet culture: Web2 and Web3.
In Web2, meme is a centralized commodity. Platforms such as Reddit and Twitter monetize viral content through advertising, but creators rarely benefit financially from it. It spreads through platforms such as Reddit or Twitter, but its monetization process is isolated-for example, the platform earns advertising revenue rather than creators. An example is the rise of DOGE in 2013, whose community funded charity but lacked ownership of meme’s financial value.
Web3 transforms meme into a self-sovereign asset, and communities monetize their cultural labor.Meme has also become a tradable “equity” governed by decentralized communities rather than controlled by corporate algorithms. This transformation is actually revolutionary, as meme has transformed from temporary content to lasting cultural capital. For example, PEPE recaptured the Pepe-themed meme from the appropriation of Web2, allowing holders to “own” a portion of the Internet’s history.
Real memecoin will follow a Darwinian development trajectory:
Birth: A meme is tokenized, usually as a irony;
Growth: Communities use humor and nostalgia to build social capital;
·Maturity: Successful memecoin develops quasi-social utility (holders invest not only for profit, but also for identity);
·Heritage: Memecoin either gradually disappears (most) or evolves into cultural symbols/community legends. For example, DOGE’s persistence stems from its philanthropic myth.
Shitcoin bypasses this life cycle. They are financial zombies-lacking narrative and harvested only through predatory strategies and driving up shipments. Their lack of cultural support doomed the brevity of their life cycles.
Memecoin can actually archive Internet subcultures into blockchain and function as a 21st century folklore. In turn, shitcoin lacks this emotional resonance and cannot generate community loyalty. They exploit trends rather than contribute to cultural narratives, freeing cryptocurrencies from their “counter-cultural” roots. They are parasites of meme and are fundamentally different from meme.
The real challenge now is maintaining cultural integrity.The confusion between memecoin and shitcoin has threatened the cultural foundation of cryptocurrencies-exploitative tokens lead to erosion of trust, low-quality replicas stifle innovation and dilute creativity, and volatility and scams lead to severe regulation, endangering creative freedom…
Let’s review history. Founded in 2013 by Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer, DOGE was originally a parody of Bitcoin and a tribute to the Doge-themed meme. The entire project is full of self-deprecating humor. However, it is this irony that helps it stand out in the increasingly serious and competitive crypto world. Within months, a loyal community (you might call it a “cult”) quickly emerged, funding the Jamaica bobsleigh team for the 2014 Winter Olympics and sponsoring causes such as the Clean Water Program. These early charities reveal a community spirit that transcends speculation.
Susan Blackmore wrote in “The Meme Machine”(1999) that meme’s success depends largely on its ability to resonate with a shared cultural context. Memecoin achieves this by using humor as a Trojan horse; people gather around humor, but they stay because of a sense of belonging. Whether it’s publishing ridiculous memes or raising money for quirky causes, these communities transform the “attention economy” into tangible economic value. Community exchanges, activities, and creations amplify cultural momentum, and digital cross-transmission occurs so quickly that the value of memecoin often soars not because of its intrinsic practicality, but because of endless humor driving. Over time, if meme can resonate widely (as DOGE does), tokens can transcend their original joke and become independent cultural symbols.
In contrast, shitcoin lacks any meaningful cultural foundation. They exist purely as speculative tools, with their creators exploiting viral marketing and FOMO (Fear of Missing) emotions without contributing anything real to the broader cryptocurrency or cultural ecosystem.The value of memecoin is emotional; the value of shitcoin is transactional.
Cryptocurrency markets-especially on chains like Solana, where transactions are fast and inexpensive-may be swamped by the proliferation of tokens like mushrooms after the rain on platforms such as pump.fun, but not all fungi are edible.
As Coindesk reporter Brady Dale wrote in a 2021 article about DOGE: “The real difference is not the code, but the narrative.”
Shitcoin lacks narrative depth.They have no comedy spark, no charity, and no sense of collective participation that transcends speculation. Last year’s wave of so-called PolitiFi tokens, such as MAGA coins, BODEN or KAMA, demonstrated how shitcoin can attach itself to topics of cultural division (in this case, political themes) to accelerate speculation. Instead of connecting communities, they use political sentiment to make quick profits. They don’t have an internal joke to share, but are just chips in digital casinos. From start to finish, it’s just a carefully planned conspiracy to control the market.
As early as 2022, a reporter wrote in the New York Times: “Tokens with political labels use real-world tensions to gain temporary market momentum, leaving behind a string of disillusioned investors.”
We have all seen how it has developed this year. Just because a token can spread viral does not mean that it naturally has the status of memecoin. Memecoin leverages cultural consensus or collective resonance, and shitcoin is just parasitic on the same viral transmission mechanism and lacks any more in-depth story. As a result, they burn out quickly.
Noelle Acheson said in a Decrypt interview in 2021:”They are the economic equivalent of ‘flash mobs’… This spectacle disappears as quickly as it forms, without leaving any lasting cultural mark.”
“Meme is the DNA of our culture. They are ever-changing codes spread through collective imitation and re-creation. — Susan Blackmore, Meme Machine (1999)
Conflating memecoin with shitcoin poses a real threat to the legitimacy and artistic charm that real memecoin brings to the cryptocurrency field.Memecoin has historically been a convenient entry point for newcomers to access complex financial instruments. When viewers see this field diluted by exploitative tokens without a cultural soul, their trust and enthusiasm are eroded.
Memecoin reflects the collective psychology of the Internet subculture-Reddit posts, Twitter updates, Discord channels. Shitcoin hollowed out the concept of meme and reduced it to “viral”. The result is a market full of digital garbage that hides truly creative projects.Real memecoin energizes Internet culture and builds emotional resonance in the global community.DOGE was initially successful because it was interesting, inclusive, and reflected the core of Internet humor. Tokens like PEPE continue this tradition. Shitcoin lacks this community magic. They are launched by individuals, and they are just taking advantage of meme.
That’s why calling a shitcoin memecoin is like calling a billboard slogan high art.The superficial similarities conceal the huge gap between authenticity and purpose. Memecoins are not just jokes, they are mirrors that reflect the nature of Internet culture, while shitcoins are mirrors-all superficial, no substance.Confusing the two is a misunderstanding of the two. Culture is fragile, don’t let it fall.
In the words of Richard Dawkins, a meme is a “cultural unit.” Let us respect that definition and remember why we entered the cryptocurrency world-not just to make money, but to belong.
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