2024's picks: the 5 best Solana memecoins to watch

Solana (SOL), known for its fast transactions and low fees, has emerged as a big player in the world of cryptocurrencies. Recently, one particular asset has been instrumental in driving its rich ecosystem forward — memecoins. The Solana blockchain has quickly become a fresh canvas, colored by a vibrant new wave of memecoins. These coins effortlessly capture the fun, light-hearted aspect of the internet and social media subcultures, while in some cases representing substantial value.

These aren’t your typical digital assets — they’re the rebels, jesters, and disruptors of the ever-evolving crypto kingdom. Solana memecoins have an uncanny ability to capture the very essence of the blockchain itself. These coins represent fun, humor, art, positivity, and, more importantly, a strong sense of community. Here, dogs donning crocheted pink hats (yes, really) and human-like frogs are a celebrated norm. In fact, they and other Solana-based meme tokens represent a combined market cap of over $500 million.

Read on to understand why Solana memecoins have captured interest in the crypto community, and explore the top five Solana memecoins trading today.

So, what exactly are memecoins?

First, let’s get a better understanding of memecoins themselves. As their name suggests, memecoins are inspired by internet memes, pop culture references, quirky online trends, or fads. Often, they prioritize entertainment and community engagement over traditional financial metrics. Unlike conventional cryptocurrencies, memecoins may lack a concrete use case or utility, and their value can be derived from their cultural significance and community-driven narratives.

In short, memecoins thrive on the notion that humor and relatability can be as valuable as technological innovation. The biggest memecoin by market cap is Dogecoin (DOGE), based on a Shiba Inu internet meme. Regarded as the first-ever “dog coin,” DOGE was initially created as a joke in 2013. More than a decade later, the memecoin is way too important to laugh off, with a current market cap of 11 billion.

Since then, many other iterations of meme tokens have been launched on various blockchains, gaining legions of online fans. For example, Pepe (PEPE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB) are two of the most popular memecoins originating from the Ethereum blockchain. Recently, memecoins have taken a peculiar turn, manifesting in eccentric and often bizarre circumstances.

Take, for example, Hamster (HAM), which is built on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC). Described as a “novelty meme cryptocurrency,” HAM amassed a devoted fanbase when Hamsters.gg, an online gambling platform, allowed users to earn crypto by betting on real-life hamsters that raced each other on livestream.

Solana's memecoin boom

Solana’s ecosystem provides fertile ground for memecoins to flourish and thrive. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, the Solana blockchain is efficient, highly scalable, and offers a cost-effective way to deploy smart contracts. This inevitably attracts memecoin creators and developers, allowing them to bring their vision to fruition and launch new tokens easily within a short period.

The second and most relevant reason, however, is the strategically executed airdrops in recent months. Bonk (BONK), one of the largest memecoins on the Solana network, airdropped half of its supply to the Solana community. Meanwhile, those who purchased Saga, Solana’s Web3-focused smartphone, were entitled to a BONK token airdrop that surpassed the phone’s market value at that point. Airdrops from Pyth Network (PYTH) and Jito Network (JTO) have also drummed up considerable interest, with the latter, a Solana-based liquid staking protocol, airdropping millions of JTO tokens in December 2023.

5 best Solana memecoins to know

While the Solana ecosystem continues to show high potential, the market for memecoins persists, riding a wave of frenzied support. To keep up, we’ve compiled a list of top Solana memecoins you need to know this year.

1. Bonk (BONK)

BONK, a canine-themed memecoin, is regarded as the first memecoin on Solana. Launched as a response to the 2022 FTX collapse, BONK sought to rekindle trust in the Solana ecosystem. “For too long, Solana has been the victim of predatory VC tokens that prey on the wider Solana community. BONK was created to flip this script and bring power back to those that made this network great, the people,” the coin said in its white paper.

In December 2022, the coin did just that, rewarding Solana users by airdropping half of its supply as a Christmas gift. To claim the airdrop, Saga smartphone users had to download the BONK app from Saga’s in-built app store. BONK’s massive popularity and the timely airdrop quickly saw preorders for the Saga sell out.

Today, BONK stands out as a compelling alternative to more established memecoins like DOGE, backed by its robust community and promising market potential. Holding the title of the largest Solana-based memecoin, it boasts an impressive market cap exceeding $739 million.

2. Dogwifhat (WIF)

Inspired by a meme featuring a Shiba Inu wearing a charming pink knitted hat, WIF has swiftly claimed its status as one of the fastest-growing memecoins within Solana’s network. Following BONK’s footsteps, WIF experienced a notable surge in price during December 2023. On January 19, 2024, the coin reached an impressive all-time high of $0.53, driven partly by its listing on the Binance crypto exchange, where it introduced the WIF/USDT perpetual contract.

WIF has further solidified its presence by securing listings on other major exchanges, including BitMex, Bybit, KuCoin, and Crypto.com.

The sustainability of WIF’s upward trajectory remains uncertain, but its future outlook appears promising. The coin’s light-hearted and unserious nature is a breath of fresh air in the sometimes competitive world of crypto assets. As its website succinctly put it: “I mean bro, it's literally a dog wif a hat.”

3. Myro (MYRO)

Launched in October of 2023, MYRO is a much newer coin that quickly became the third-largest memecoin on the Solana network. MYRO, a tribute to the dog owned by Solana co-founder Raj Gokal, is a playful response to the crypto community’s insatiable appetite for dog-based coins.

MYRO offers a user-friendly staking program and a MYRO Buy Bot, Solana’s first public Buy Bot on Telegram. According to its website, users can purchase MYRO through various methods, such as using the Phantom Wallet, engaging with decentralized exchanges like Jupiter, or using the integrated Mayan swap for a multichain experience. Additionally, the MYRO team is gearing up for enhanced utilities, which could attract more interest and open up possibilities for further growth.

4. Fronk (FRONK)

To many, the FRONK token emerged as a renegade, branding itself as a coin created "for the people." Launched in January 2023, half of the total supply of FRONK had been burnt one year later.

According to its official X account, FRONK is “tired of the injustice and bias on Solana.” Alluding to the airdrops of other Solana-based tokens, FRONK continued: “We love BONK but feel there was a bias in how the tokenomics were assigned.” As such, the project promised 45% of FRONK supply to those left out of the BONK airdrop. This included holders of DeGods, y00ts, Okay Bears, and Cets on Creck.

5. Samoyedcoin (SAMO)

Paying homage to the cherished Samoyed dog breed, SAMO is the fourth-largest memecoin on the Solana network, with an impressive trading volume of $2.23 million. Founded in 2021 during the peak of the dog-themed token frenzy, SAMO is also one of the earliest meme tokens on the Solana ecosystem.

Beyond serving as a welcoming entry point to the Solana ecosystem, SAMO offers features like Samo Swap and non-fungible token (NFT) lending, where users can borrow crypto using NFTs as collateral, including SAMO NFTs.

The final word

While these memecoins have all shown impressive potential, their future path relies largely on the Solana blockchain’s widespread adoption and overall performance. In 2024, the future of Solana looks bright, especially with its role in Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN). According to a recent Messari report, the collective market cap of DePINs featuring liquid tokens surpassed $20 billion. Solana has rapidly gained momentum with plenty of notable DePIN projects launched on its chains, such as Helium (HNT) and Render (RNDR).

Social media platforms can also influence the future of Solana memecoins. Platforms such as X, Reddit, and Discord offer excellent platforms for engaging discussions and serve as catalysts for community-centric initiatives. These digital communities play a crucial role in sharing information about emerging memecoins, creating anticipation, and contributing to the dynamic evolution of the Solana memecoin ecosystem.

As the crypto landscape unfolds, Solana memecoins combine technological innovation, community engagement, and the ever-evolving world of decentralized finance (DeFi) — promising an exciting journey ahead. However, it's important to note that the viral nature of memecoins can pose certain risks. Like all cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Ripple (XRP), memecoins can experience volatility. As always, do your own research (DYOR) or seek financial advice before trading in the crypto market.