Meme Economy

Definition ∞ The Meme Economy refers to the financial activity and value generation associated with internet memes and meme-inspired digital assets. This economic segment is characterized by speculative trading in meme coins, which are cryptocurrencies often created as jokes or social experiments with little intrinsic utility but gain value through community hype and social media attention. It also includes the creation and sale of meme-themed non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The value within this economy is largely driven by cultural relevance, community engagement, and viral distribution.
Context ∞ The Meme Economy continues to be a highly volatile and speculative corner of the digital asset market, attracting both significant interest and considerable criticism. Discussions often center on its sustainability, the potential for pump-and-dump schemes, and its role in broader market sentiment. Future developments may see a maturation of some meme-inspired projects or a continued cycle of new, short-lived assets driven by social trends.