In the world of digital assets, the 25% price plummet of meme coins such as PEPE, SHIB, and APE has roused attention. It comes amidst a backdrop of a 9% drop in total market capitalization of the crypto sector from Aug.14 to Aug.21.
Meme coins shot to prominence, partly riding on community enthusiasm and viral memes. Yet, their self-limiting nature, anchored predominantly on their meme-based value and media hype, suggests they’re anything but sturdy investment vessels. They are inherently speculative, susceptible to swift price fluctuations and volatility. Added to this, the market is rife with a plethora of clones diluting their appeal, ushering investment momentum towards more traditional cryptocurrencies.
However, the cautionary tale of PEPE, SHIB, and APE doesn’t assert that meme coins invariably underperform the average crypto market. Their high beta nature means they tend to mirror and at times amplify changes in the industry, making them an interesting gauge for sentiment. It does beg the question whether their price drops are hinting at the possibility of a bigger market downturn, or merely reflect their lacklustre performance.
Interestingly though, meme coins have also performed poorly amidst bull cycles. Perhaps serving as an apt testament to such, between March 13 and March 30, meme coins experienced a decline while the total cryptocurrency cap increased by a substantial 17.5%.
Following the underwhelming performance of meme coins, sector analysts keenly watch the aftermath to determine if the price drop foreshadows a market bottom or reflects a sector-wide shift to different crypto assets. Put in a broader context, despite mid-June’s and late March’s underperformance, the total crypto market capitalization stayed mostly steady or even experienced gains in subsequent weeks.
Consider this: external events such as BlackRock’s application for a Bitcoin ETF and the expiry of Bitcoin options worth a significant $4.2 billion have in the past influenced crypto market sentiment, thereby indirectly impacting the price trajectory of meme coins. Despite the apparently gloomy outlook, the potential for BTC to find support around $26,000 remains probable.
Conclusively, whether the dip in meme coins signals a deepening bearish market trend or just a reflection of their ‘bubble-like’ nature remains to be seen. The crypto market, like meme coins themselves, is unpredictable and replete with mastodonic opportunities and risks.
Source: Cointelegraph
