This is a segment from the Lightspeed newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe . Let’s take a moment to reflect on this year’s biggest memecoin highs and lows. Some coins delivered huge gains, stuffing stockings with profits, while others crashed and burned, earning lumps of coal. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest winners and losers in the space — no sugar-coating included. Political tokens: Naughty or nice? Jeo Boden , parodying US President Joe Biden, surged 1,548% from $0.06307 to $1.04 before crashing 99.74% to $0.00274. Meanwhile, the Donald Trump inspired MAGA skyrocketed 4,170% from $0.41 to $17.51 but dropped 91.7% to $1.45, following a similar fate. The Parent Trap Iggy Azalea ‘s MOTHER sparkled with a 4,798% climb from $0.004709 to $0.2306, but dropped 79% to $0.04837. Unshaken, Azalea has doubled down on her token’s future with Motherland, an online casino project that could breathe new life into the MOTHER token in 2025. Not to be outdone, Andrew Tate introduced the pseudo-affiliated DADDY, a memecoin designed to counter MOTHER’s success and “flip it for the patriarchy.” DADDY surged 487% from $0.04917 to $0.2886 before succumbing to a 76% loss to now sit at $0.0684. A lot of hot air Fartcoin blew onto the scene in late 2024, climbing 3,052% from $0.04067671 to $1.28 and holding steady at $1.25. Similarly, GOAT ( Goatseus Maximus ) paired edgy humor with viral AI marketing , surging 3,002% from $0.04354 to $1.35 before settling at $0.508. It’s snowing cats and dogs Popcat exploded 14,400% from $0.01413 to $2.05 before settling at $0.7912. Cat in a Dog’s World (MEW) grew 1,312% from $0.0009121 to $0.01288 but fell 51% to $0.006353. MEW’s attempt to challenge the dominance of dog-themed tokens injected some friendly rivalry into the memecoin ecosystem. Bonk, Solana’s first dog-themed coin, climbed a mere 210% from $0.0000188 to $0.00005825. In comparison, Dogwifhat (WIF) outperformed , rising 2,292% from $0.201808 to $4.83 before settling 56% lower at $2.12. Viral hits and legal misses ChillGuy, based on the “Just a Chill Guy” meme, soared 10,789% from $0.00604 to $0.6575 but dropped 71% to $0.1898. Artist Phillip Banks condemned the token, pursuing legal action over its use. PNUT, launched after the viral euthanization of Peanut the Squirrel, surged 7,554% from $0.03187 to $2.44 but fell 71% to $0.6981. The token’s trajectory was mired in controversy, as Peanut’s owner condemned its creation and sought to shut it down. Moodeng, inspired by a viral Thai baby hippo , rose 4,300% from $0.01545 to $0.6804 but has since dropped 62% to $0.2576. For every coin that soared, there were 10 that crashed, proving again and again that memecoins giveth and memecoins taketh away. So, whether you’re toasting to the winners or mourning the lumps of coal in your portfolio, just remember that chaos is the only constant in crypto — and it doesn’t care one bit if you’ve been naughty or nice. Start your day with top crypto insights from David Canellis and Katherine Ross. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter . Explore the growing intersection between crypto, macroeconomics, policy and finance with Ben Strack, Casey Wagner and Felix Jauvin. Subscribe to the Forward Guidance newsletter . Get alpha directly in your inbox with the 0xResearch newsletter — market highlights, charts, degen trade ideas, governance updates, and more. The Lightspeed newsletter is all things Solana, in your inbox, every day. Subscribe to daily Solana news from Jack Kubinec and Jeff Albus.
