The Meme Economy: When Internet Attention Becomes Tradeable Assets

The intersection of meme culture and digital assets has created a fascinating paradox in crypto markets. Justin Sun recently highlighted a critical distinction in the meme coin phenomenon: not every trending name translates into valuable digital currency. The transformation from internet attention to monetized tokens requires more than just launching a coin bearing a recognizable name.

Why Naming Alone Isn’t Enough

Consider the hypothetical scenario of a Biden coin launched today. Despite the political figure’s widespread recognition, such a token would likely struggle to gain traction. The fundamental issue isn’t the celebrity factor or internet buzz—it’s the gap between public awareness and genuine cultural asset creation. A political figure or trending term must first transcend its original context, evolving from a simple name into a genuine meme or intellectual property with independent cultural value.

The Internet Attention Economy at Work

Meme coins succeed when they harness authentic internet culture and community engagement. This isn’t merely about accumulated online chatter; it’s about converting diffuse internet attention into concentrated market participation. The winners in this space are those that achieve breakout status within the attention economy—tokens that capture cultural momentum and transform it into sustained demand.

The barrier to entry in token creation is nearly nonexistent, but the barrier to recognition and adoption remains substantial. This gap separates the noise from the signal, determining which meme coins achieve lasting value and which fade into obscurity.