The Shiba Inu dog breed may have become the preferred choice for canine-themed memecoins, but who's to say your own meme-based vision can't be just as popular?
Although highly volatile, it's easy to see why many crypto enthusiasts are drawn to the idea of launching their own memecoin project. Not only is this segment of the crypto scene light-hearted and playful, it's also anchored in community and togetherness. That's why many see memecoins as the ideal counterbalance to the complexity and technical sophistication of other projects — a moment of fun in an otherwise serious space.
Interested in launching your own memecoin? In this article, we'll provide essential guidance and tips for creating and launching a memecoin project that might just be the next DOGE or PEPE.
TL;DR
Memecoins, born from internet pop culture, gain popularity through community support and social media.
Research, audience understanding, and community engagement are important steps to consider for a memecoin launch.
Create a unique concept and an engaging narrative to stand out in crypto.
Effective tokenomics involves defining coin supply, fair distribution, and providing rewards to build community trust.
Create a community using social media, forums, influencers, and clear communication for your memecoin.
What are memecoins?
Memecoins are digital assets primarily fueled by internet culture and memes. While most have no real utility like solving technical issues, their viral-like nature stems from the support of the memecoin's community. They often start as a parody, similar to Dogecoin, but can gain significant traction and attention over time.
Crypto in general is a highly volatile digital asset, and memecoins are especially so. That's why you should always exercise caution before jumping on the hype train.
Memecoins can be traced back to the creation of Dogecoin in 2013. The creators behind Dogecoin, software engineers Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer, initially created DOGE as a joke around crypto speculation. Little did they know, companies like Tesla, Twitch, GameStop, and Newegg would start to accept DOGE as a form of payment.
Credit for the mainstream acceptance of DOGE could be attributed to Elon Musk's enthusiasm for the memecoin, but it ultimately depends on the DOGE community itself. Memecoins tend to thrive on social media engagement and the enthusiasm of their community.
The face of Dogecoin was a lovable Shiba Inu dog, Kabosa, who sadly passed away in May 2024. Kabosa rose to fame after her owner, Atsuko Sato, posted a picture of Kabosa on her blog in 2010. From there, Kabosa's picture instantly gained meme fame. How could you not resist the dog's charming side-eye glance?
While memecoins may seem inviting because of their low entry barrier. It's important to do your due diligence and never buy more than you can afford.
How to define the concept of your memecoin?
Whether you're aiming to launch your memecoin alone or with a group of crypto "frens," you may want to consider if you wish to be anonymous or known to the community.
So you're thinking about launching your own memecoin project? Step one is to define the concept of your project so you can bring something distinctive and compelling to the community.
Research
It might seem a little dry, but thorough research will be your foundation for building a memecoin. However, don't just rely on success stories for guidance. Understanding why certain memecoin projects fail is also important, as they provide insight into what not to do.
Consider some of today's most popular projects and think about what helped them rise to prominence. For example, while Shiba Inu (SHIB) uses a cartoon graphic of the dog breed, it's positioned itself as the "Dogecoin Killer." This tongue-in-cheek nickname aligned perfectly with internet meme culture and capitalized on the success of the Dogecoin memecoin. It's important to know your audience so you can understand their sense of humor and what'll resonate with them.
Dive into forums and memecoin communities
Reddit, X, Discord, and Telegram are great places to start to connect with different memecoin communities. Pay close attention to recurring themes, popular memes, and emerging trends that could inspire your concept. Ask and observe why certain community members are buzzing over a particular trend.
A word of caution: you don't want to shill your memecoin immediately. Remember, you're still at the research stage. Some communities don't like "one-time" posters, which is why it pays to build a presence on platforms. It's also wise to practice good community etiquette and engage with the community. And, as you connect with various memecoin communities, you may find others to work on your project.
Building your concept
Once you've landed on your memecoin concept, it's time to get started with development. Your memecoin must have a unique twist and an engaging idea that stands out among crypto's noise pollution.
Think about what will drive community members to your memecoin. Will it be humor, a specific meme, or raising awareness of a movement? While Dogecoin capitalized on Kabosa's meme, the driving force of the memecoin's popularity was DOGE's fun community vibe.
What's the backstory of your memecoin? Your coin's narrative should be easy to understand and, ideally, relatable to community members. It may not be obvious, but memecoins thrive on stories that people want to share.
Your coin should also evoke some emotion, whether it's laughter, nostalgia, or excitement. If there's an opportunity to tie your memecoin's story into a larger narrative, that can help amplify the coin's appeal.
Keeping up with crypto trends
Ever hear the expression "today's news is tomorrow's trash?" As you know, crypto moves fast — what's trending today could be forgotten tomorrow. Stay informed by checking industry news, following influential crypto natives on social media, and participating in online discussions to keep your finger on the pulse. By moving fast with a concept built around a trending topic, you may be able to ride the wave of interest and build a thriving community faster.
What are the technical steps?
If you need to become more technically savvy around blockchain functions, there are several tutorials and documentation to follow such as Solana's Rust breakdown or the Solidity document page. If you don't have the time, return to the communities you initially engaged for research to find a developer to partner with.
Choose a blockchain
Some popular choices for memecoins are Solana and Ethereum. For this guide, we'll focus on these two chains.
Solana's fast speed and low fees make it great for decentralized apps and tokens.
Some developers lean towards Ethereum because of its scalability and the fact that the crypto community has widely adopted it.
Understand token standards
Token standards create rules for tokens to follow, making them compatible with different platforms.
SPL, the standard for tokens on Solana, provides guidelines for transferring tokens and checking balances.
Ethereum uses the ERC-20 standard. This standard describes the rules for how tokens work.
Dive into programming
On Solana, the primary programming language for writing smart contracts is Rust, but you can also use C and C++ too.
Solidity is the main coding language used for creating smart contracts on Ethereum.
Smart contracts are self-executing contracts written in code. They manage everything from issuing your memecoin to handling transactions automatically.
If you're new to Rust or Solidity, there's plenty of resources and tutorials to help you get started.
Create and deploy your smart contract
Use tools like Solana CLI for deploying programs on Solana and Phantom, a wallet for Solana.
For Ethereum, use tools like Remix, an online IDE for Solidity, and acquire a MetaMask wallet that interacts with the Ethereum blockchain.
After writing your smart contract, you can test it on Solana's devnet or Ethereum's testnets before deploying it on the mainnet.
Audit your smart contract
Audit your smart contract for security issues once your memecoin is deployed.
Platforms like CertiK and Quantstamp do deep checks to make sure your code is safe and protected.
How to develop effective tokenomics for your memecoin
Effective tokenomics can underpin the sustainability and economic success of your memecoin project. As a result, many traders will study your project's tokenomics before deciding whether to get involved with it. Let's look more closely at tokenomics so you can create a sustainable model for building your community.
Define the coin supply
First, decide on the total supply of your memecoin. Will it be fixed or infinite? A fixed supply can create scarcity, potentially increasing demand and value over time. Dogecoin, on the other hand, has an unlimited supply, which keeps prices relatively low. Think about your coin's narrative and goals, as this will help you decide whether to stick to a fixed coin supply or infinite.
Develop a distribution model
Next, outline how your coins will be distributed. This includes initial coin offerings (ICOs), airdrops, and allocations for development teams and marketing.
A fair and transparent distribution model can build trust within the community. Shiba Inu distributed a significant portion of its tokens to Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin, who later donated them to charity, creating a positive buzz.
Implement reward mechanisms
One way to encourage participation is to develop an easy-to-use reward system within your memecoin project. You can, for example, offer staking rewards, where users lock up their coins to support the network and earn more coins.
Consider deflationary and inflationary features
If you decide to make your memecoin deflationary, the coins will decrease over time. Normally, though, mechanisms like burning tokens (permanently removing them from circulation) can increase their value as the supply diminishes.
Inflationary tokens increase in supply, which can support network growth but may dilute value. Make a choice based on what aligns with your long-term vision for your memecoin.
Make sustainability a priority
Finally, make sure your tokenomics model is sustainable. Avoid overly complex mechanisms that can confuse users. Aim to maintain the ELI5 (explain like I'm 5) method of communication across all your documentation.
Make your roadmap clear, simple, and transparent to help your community understand what your vision is and how the project will grow and evolve. Doing so can strengthen trust in you and the project, as it signifies a long-term commitment to realizing your vision.
How to build a memecoin community
Imagine your community as the backbone of your project. They'll be your biggest cheerleaders, but always hold you accountable for your actions. This is why being transparent with your community is so important. They can also be your harshest critics, and determine the stability of the project into the future.
Read on to understand how to build a community around your memecoin.
Leverage social media marketing
In the passages above we explored how you can build a good reputation by researching your competitors, asking the right questions, and engaging with the community. All your hard work can show the community you're an engaged and passionate member of the memecoin space.
It's important to sustain this engagement with a strong presence across channels like Reddit, X, Discord, and Telegram that's connected to your project. Doing so can build a community and transparency around your memecoin, as each channel is an avenue for immediate two-way conversation with your community. These channels might also be the first place a prospective member hears about your project, and are therefore powerful catalysts for growth.
Engage in forums
Continue to network outside your own community on forums like Bitcointalk, and specialized subreddits in the crypto space.
Participate in discussions, share your project's vision, and listen to feedback. These forums are also great places to announce launches, airdrops, and form partnerships.
Explore influencer partnerships
When you align yourself with the right influencers, they can help boost your memecoin's visibility among their large and engaged following. Influencers can also support you in creating content around your memecoin, such as reviews, tutorials, and shoutouts, which can guide their audience to your memecoin.
When engaging with potentially influencers, consider those that share an authentic link to your project. Have they engaged with it in the past, or are they somehow connected to the meme or concept that underpins your token? Authenticity is often a key ingredient for success with influencer partnerships.
Meme marketing tactics
Viral marketing is beneficial to memecoins. Create shareable content that connects with the meme community. New memes, funny videos, and trend-based posts can help your coin quickly gain visibility. Strong tokenomics and a passionate community can turn visibility into connection.
Keep in mind that you don't need to be the only source for marketing content. Encourage your community to also share content and create memes, amplifying the exposure. You can also host contests with prizes to boost participation.
Go directly to your community
Take the time to connect directly with your community by hosting regular AMAs (ask me anything) sessions. Meanwhile, consider using polls and surveys to gather feedback and make your supporters feel valued. It's also valuable to keep your community informed about project progress and upcoming milestones so they feel closer to what's happening and are incentivized to stay involved.
Explore PR tactics
Brushing up on your PR skills can widen your project's exposure even further. X Spaces (previously Twitter Spaces) are one popular route to connect with the crypto community. Meanwhile, consider writing a press release explaining a new development for your project and explaining your memecoin's narrative. Distribute it to crypto journalists and give them a story they can publish.
If you become an expert around a protocol, collaborate with crypto news sites to volunteer as a guest blogger, or collaborate with micro-bloggers. This can help you to build further credibility.
The final word
As their name suggests, memecoins are born from memes and the humorous side of internet culture. Despite their unserious nature, memecoins are a major part of the crypto scene today, thanks largely to the strong communities built behind individual projects.
Creating your own memecoin can be a rewarding but challenging task to take on, and it's important to immerse yourself in the space if your project is to be a success. That means gaining skills in various areas — from research to marketing and programming. That's why it can help to partner up before you jump into a project, surrounding you with the skills you need to succeed.
The guidance shared in this article is a good place to start before you launch a memecoin project to rival the likes of SHIB, BONK, WIF, and others.
FAQ
Memecoins are cryptocurrencies fueled by internet culture and memes. They often start life as parodies, like Dogecoin. Memecoins gain popularity through community support and social media engagement, creating a viral-like spread due to their humorous and relatable nature.
To create an engaging narrative, research thoroughly, understand your audience's humor, and connect with memecoin communities. Craft a story that resonates with the crypto community and one that's relatable.
Tokenomics involves defining your memecoin's supply and creating a fair distribution model. As a first step, consider whether the token will be deflationary or inflationary, and make sure the model is simple, transparent, and sustainable. It could help here to look at today's most popular memecoins to understand their tokenomics and what success looks like.
Use social media, forums, influencers, and viral memes to grow a community. Be transparent, interact with AMAs, polls, and updates, and encourage participation to build trust and enthusiasm.
Not always. Although memecoins have a reputation for being playful, some have evolved to help make a meaningful difference in the world. For example, in 2014, the Dogecoin community helped to raise $40 million DOGE — equivalent to $30,000 at the time — to build clean water wells in Kenya's Tana River Basin.
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