In recent years, the cryptocurrency market has witnessed the explosion of meme coins – digital currencies created based on trends, humorous images, or famous Internet personalities. But from 2023 until now, a “new wave of meme coins” has formed and grown strongly: TikTok Meme Coins. This is not only a short‑term investment craze but also a clear manifestation of how social networks directly influence the financial behaviors of Gen Z.
This article will delve into every aspect of TikTok meme coins to give you an overview and help you find safe ways to invest in this highly volatile market.
What Is a TikTok Meme Coin?
TikTok Meme Coins is a term used to describe cryptocurrencies created based on trends, personalities, images, or viral clips on the TikTok platform. This is a new branch in the meme coin ecosystem, emerging around 2023 and quickly becoming the center of attention thanks to its astonishing potential for explosive value growth and rapid spread.
How They Differ from Traditional Meme Coins
Unlike early meme coins such as Dogecoin (DOGE) or Shiba Inu (SHIB) – which were born and driven by communities on Reddit, Twitter, or 4chan – TikTok meme coins originate directly from TikTok culture, where short videos with humorous, cute, quirky, or controversial content can become trending overnight.
TikTok meme coins typically:
- “Piggyback” on viral images, personalities, or audio clips from TikTok.
- Are created almost instantly after a prominent trend emerges.
- Spread at lightning speed thanks to TikTok’s content recommendation algorithm.
Notable TikTok Meme Coins
$CHILLGUY – The Icon of Relaxation
Launched in October 2023, $CHILLGUY is one of the most successful TikTok meme coins. Inspired by the “Chill Guy” cartoon character – a viral image of a cool guy meditating with sunglasses – this token quickly became a sensation.
- Market cap reached USD 580 million in just five days.
- Over 81,000 holders.
However, the project faced a legal dispute when artist Phillip Banks – creator of the “Chill Guy” image – asserted copyright protection, causing the token’s price to drop over 50%.
$HAWK – Hawk Tuah Girl and the Sudden Crash
This coin originated from a humorous TikTok interview where a girl (Haliey Welch) impressively said “Hawk Tuah!”. The phrase went viral with hundreds of millions of views.
Immediately after, $HAWK was launched and its price was driven up by the meme’s popularity. But within days, the price collapsed, leading to pump‑and‑dump allegations and U.S. SEC scrutiny.
Omochi (Netroots Frog) – The Million‑View Frog
Based on a cute frog image with nearly 500,000 TikTok followers, the Omochi token was quickly created and attracted attention thanks to an existing community.
In just three hours after launch, it reached a market cap of USD 5.1 million and total trading volume over USD 11.5 million. Although not yet listed on major exchanges, it proves the mantra “if there’s a trend, there’s a coin.”
Apple Dog & Fartcoin – Peak Humor Memes
Apple Dog: Inspired by a dog that loves eating apples – the original video has over 170 million views on TikTok. Token $APPLE soared to a peak of $0.71 before correcting.
Fartcoin (FARTCOIN): Launched in October 2023, promoted as “the coin born from a genuine sound,” inspired by Elon Musk. At its peak, it nearly reached USD 1 billion market cap thanks to its novelty.
Why Can TikTok Make a Meme Coin 10× in a Single Night?
TikTok is more than just a social media platform – it’s a trend‑setting machine capable of turning an unknown individual, a small trend, or a random meme into a global phenomenon within hours. That is why TikTok‑originated meme coins can achieve market caps in the millions in such a short time.
Powerful Recommendation Algorithm
Unlike platforms like YouTube or Instagram – where users must search or follow to see content – TikTok uses the “For You Page” (FYP) algorithm to push engaging videos to the right people at the right time. This means:
- Any video can go viral, even from non‑celebrities.
- When a meme video spreads, related tokens appear almost instantly.
- Users FOMO into buying tokens because of strong herd‑psychology effects.
Target Audience: Gen Z – the FOMO‑Driven Risk‑Takers
TikTok is the main playground for Gen Z (born roughly between 1997 and 2012). This group is:
- Tech‑savvy and visually driven.
- Easily influenced by social‑media trends.
- Willing to spend small amounts to “catch trends” and make quick profits.
Gen Z forms the core FOMO force behind TikTok meme coins: they create tokens based on viral memes, promote them on social media, and buy in hoping for 10× returns despite high risks. This synergy allows token prices to skyrocket in hours, turning TikTok memes into “serious speculative assets” with millions in trading volume.
TikTok Has Spawned a New Financial Behavior
In May 2023, hashtag #memecoin surpassed hundreds of millions of searches in two weeks. Although it has cooled somewhat, it still draws millions of searches. This shows TikTok isn’t just entertainment but has created a new financial behavior: “meme‑driven investing, buy by video.”
Users no longer rely on technical indicators or fundamental analysis; seeing a “fun, unique, viral” meme is enough to open a wallet, visit a DEX, and place an order. It clearly illustrates TikTok culture’s power to steer young investors’ money, often without solid financial or blockchain knowledge.
This is a clear sign that the power of TikTok culture is directly influencing the investment flow of a segment of young people, despite sometimes lacking basic knowledge of finance or blockchain.
Potential and Opportunities of TikTok Meme Coins
Ultra‑Fast Growth – “Zero to Million in Days”
TikTok meme coins stand out for explosive growth thanks to TikTok’s viral power. Unlike traditional crypto projects that need time for development, fundraising, and listing, a TikTok meme coin can explode right after a few viral videos. This is the advantage of “meme‑driven growth,” where attention itself is the asset and TikTok is the money‑flow driver.
Strong Community – Fanbase as FOMO Foundation
What sets TikTok meme coins apart is their pre‑existing community. Many TikTok meme personalities have hundreds of thousands to millions of followers, meaning their tokens launch with a built‑in audience. This fanbase not only fuels viral spread but creates a “community defense” effect, preventing sharp price drops unless major negative news appears.
Possible Listing on Major Exchanges if Highly Viral
Once a TikTok meme coin is hot enough, listing on CEXs (e.g., MEXC) is entirely feasible. Many exchanges actively scout for community‑driven meme coins to boost trading volume, attract new users, and generate market waves. CEX listings not only ease token trading but also lend a veneer of legitimacy, further stoking FOMO.
Risks of Investing in TikTok Meme Coins
Despite the promise of “life‑changing” gains, TikTok meme coins carry serious risks that can leave investors “bag‑holding” in an instant:
Extreme Price Volatility – Rocketing Up, Falling Down
TikTok meme coins can 10× in hours thanks to a viral video, yet lose 80% value overnight after a negative tweet or video report.
No Intrinsic Value
Most TikTok meme coins lack real products, services, or financial utilities—no staking, no farming, no use‑case. When the trend fades, the token becomes “digital trash,” its value purely collective hype.
Legal and Copyright Risks
Some TikTok meme coins use images, likenesses, or content of others without permission, leading to lawsuits or delisting demands. Chill Guy is a prime example—artist Phillip Banks asserted copyright, causing panic, price collapse, and exchange headaches.
Pump‑and‑Dump Vulnerability
Without audits, transparency, or identifiable teams, TikTok meme coins are easy to manipulate. Small groups can pump prices via FOMO‑driven TikTok campaigns, then quietly dump, leaving later buyers with 50–90% losses in hours.
How to Invest in TikTok Meme Coins Safely for Beginners
TikTok meme coins can be a “fun ride” if you know the rules. Jumping in just because of a viral clip is a recipe for mistakes. Here are principles to limit risks:
Follow TikTok the Right Way
Avoid FOMO pitfalls. Proactively track trends via hashtags like #memecoin, #cryptotok, #viralcoin, and focus on credible crypto‑analysis creators rather than pure “coin shillers.”
Do Thorough Project Research
Even for meme coins, check fundamentals: is there a whitepaper, roadmap, or website? Is the team transparent and scam‑free? Inspect the smart contract for hidden fees, liquidity locks, or developer rug‑pull abilities.
Manage Your Capital Wisely
Treat meme‑coin investing like buying lottery tickets—you’re playing for fun, not retirement.
- Never go all‑in.
- Only invest what you can afford to lose.
- Set clear profit targets (e.g., take 50% profits at 2×, 70% at 3×) and stick to them—don’t chase “maybe it goes higher.”
Always remember: the real winner is the one who knows when enough is enough. Do thorough research before investing to avoid unnecessary losses!
Final Remarks
TikTok Meme Coins are clear proof that social‑media content can become a powerful financial driver, offering exciting investment opportunities. It’s an alluring playground but fraught with risks and pitfalls, especially for trend‑chasing investors without solid financial know‑how.
For risk‑takers who move fast and know when to exit, TikTok meme coins can yield surprising gains. Yet extreme volatility means it’s not for the faint‑hearted—if you’re uncomfortable with high‑risk strategies, think twice before diving in.
To safely and effectively capitalize on TikTok meme‑coin opportunities, MEXC is the ideal exchange. MEXC excels at catching trend tokens quickly, listing the hottest TikTok meme coins and other trending crypto assets. With rapid listings, secure trading support, and a user‑friendly platform, MEXC makes it easy for investors to access the latest trends.
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FAQs
What is a TikTok Meme Coin?
TikTok Meme Coins are cryptocurrencies created based on viral trends on TikTok. They blend Gen Z entertainment culture with speculative crypto investing.
Why can TikTok make a meme coin go 10× overnight?
TikTok’s “For You Page” algorithm can spread any trend at lightning speed, creating FOMO that drives related token prices up rapidly.
Are TikTok meme coins worth investing in?
They can be if you embrace high risk and understand the game, but without sufficient knowledge you risk becoming the next “bag‑holder.”
Risk Disclaimer
The information in this article does not represent MEXC’s official stance or investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully evaluate market fluctuations, project fundamentals, and financial risks before making trading decisions.
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