In this episode of Unchained, memecoin traders Ansem and Kelxyz unpack everything about memecoins, discussing what makes them valuable and how they evaluate their investment potential. They also address the criticisms and controversies surrounding them, including racism and sexism. (They have a surprising reaction to the latter.) Ansem and Kel argue that memecoins have substance and value, largely due to their popularity and the attention they receive on the internet.
They also discuss the importance of distribution and virality in the success of a memecoin, how the chain any coin is on affects its value, and give their opinions on Runes vs. BRC-20s vs. Solana and Ethereum.
Plus, they talk about their wildest memecoin stories (think: Dogwifhat) and provide their insights on what they think memecoins will become in the future.
Ansem’s and Kel’s investment theses around memecoins
How Ansem and Kel got into trading memecoins and how they evaluate their potential
Why the coin distribution matters and whether tokenomics is important with memecoins
How to discern between memecoins with genuine vs. fake interest
How memecoins differ across blockchains such as Solana, Ethereum, and Bitcoin
Ansem and Kel’s responses to the criticisms of memecoins
Whether and how memecoins could become safer for users
Kel and Ansem’s surprising reaction to racist and sexist memecoins
Ansem's story on WIF and how a female friend of his fueled its popularity
Whether Bitcoin is “the original memecoin" and how they define memecoin
The future of memecoins and how they believe all memes will become coins
Culture:
- What else could memecoins be?) by Vitalik Buterin
- How bad policy favors memes over matter) by Chris Dixon
Cointelegraph: Meme coins: Betrayal of crypto’s ideals… or its true purpose?)
**CoinDesk: The Memecoin Grift and How It Threatens Ethereum Culture) **
Investment:
CoinGecko: Top Crypto Narratives Gained 39% to 1313% in Q1 2024)
Messari: Navigating Memecoin Mania)
Kelxyz investment strategy)
Decrypt: Crypto Influencer Ansem Explains His Meme Coin Thesis and Why He’s Bullish on Bitcoin Runes)
Unchained: What Is Dogwifhat (WIF) and Why Is It Up so Much?)
Safer memecoins
Unchained:** **Half of Solana Presale Tokens Rolled Out Between November and February Were Malicious: Blockaid Study)
Cointelegraph: 1 in 6 new Base meme coins are scams, 91% have vulnerabilities)
Andre Conje’s proposal)
Racist memecoins
Unchained: Offensive Memecoins Proliferate on Solana, Sparking Debate)
Crypto.news: Ethereum's Buterin slams Solana's racist meme coins, urges better projects)
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices)