Best Meme Coins to Invest in for 2026

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Last updated: 

January 7, 2026

Although experts predict fewer meme coin rallies in 2026, there’s still potential upside in tokens that have strong communities or real utility, which we prioritized heavily when building our list.

In this guide, we review the best meme coins to buy, delving into varied options, including blue-chip meme tokens like DOGE, SHIB, and PEPE, as well as newer opportunities like HYPER and MAXI.

When evaluating these cryptocurrencies, we pay close attention to branding and price performance, in addition to the criteria mentioned above. We also compare adoption trends, market traction, and long-term risks versus rewards.

Best New Meme Coins to Buy

Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER)

• Introducing the first Bitcoin L2 solution
• Allows users to trade BTC almost instantaneously
• Enhanced transaction security with ZK-proofs

Launch

May 2025

Meta

Bitcoin L2, Meme

Purchase Methods

• 
  USDC
• 
  ETH
• 
  usdt

Visit Site

Maxi Doge (MAXI)

• Meme-powered Dogecoin derivative with the focus on 1,000x leverage trading
• Maxi Doge will feature community contests and partner events to engage with its audience
• The project offers high staking rewards to its early supporters

Launch

July 2025

Meta

Meme, Trading

Purchase Methods

• 
  ETH
• 
  usdt
• 
  USDC
• 
  bnb
• 
  Bank Card
• +2 more

Visit Site

PEPENODE (PEPENODE)

• Gamifies mining of meme coins
• Add nodes to your server to increase mining ability
• Pay outs and bonuses in other top meme coins

Launch

August 2025

Meta

Mining

Purchase Methods

• 
  ETH
• 
  USDC
• 
  usdt
• 
  Bank Card
• +1 more

Visit Site

Top Meme Coins by Market Cap

Total Meme Coin Market Cap: $43.87 billion (+1.41%)

Here are the best established meme coins in 2026:

Coin	Symbol	Blockchain	Current Price	Market Cap
Dogecoin	DOGE 3.71%	Dogecoin Network	$0.14	$21.32B
Shiba Inu	SHIB 2.97%	Ethereum	$0.0000087	$5.17B
Pepe	PEPE 5.07%	Ethereum	$0.0000064	$2.70B
Bonk	BONK 2.70%	Solana	$0.000019	$1.71B
Dogwifhat	WIF 5.36%	Solana	$0.38	$386.36M

ℹ️ The data in this table is updated daily.

Best New Meme Coins With High Potential

Here are our picks for the best new meme coins for 2026:

Coin	Symbol	Blockchain	Current Price	Market Cap
🚀 Bitcoin Hyper	HYPER +17.78%	Bitcoin Hyper (Bitcoin L2)	$0.013545	$30.26M
Fartcoin	FARTCOIN 8.84%	Solana	$0.39	$390.20M
🚀 Maxi Doge	MAXI +10.80%	Ethereum	$0.000277	$4.43M
🚀 PEPENODE	PEPENODE +21.13%	Ethereum	$0.0012161	$2.46M
The Official 67 Coin	67	Solana	$0.02	$22.42M

ℹ️ The data in this table is updated weekly.

Best Meme Coins to Buy Reviewed

In volatile markets, most individuals will likely continue to hold meme coins that have already proven their ability to withstand significant declines. Crypto is now wary but not dead. It is more regulated, as it involves serious money and real products, unlike the previous hype cycles.

Here, we will discuss meme coins that have been selected based on liquidity, community strength, financial backing, and track record.

1. Dogecoin (DOGE) – First-Ever Meme Coin, Launched as a Joke, Now Mainstream

Dogecoin DOGE 3.71% was launched in 2013 as a joke, but has since evolved into a major cryptocurrency. Today, its market cap sits at $21.32B, and a spot Dogecoin ETF (BWOW) trades on the New York Stock Exchange. Its size and visibility set it apart from newer meme coins, but risks remain. DOGE faces high volatility, inflationary pressure, and heavy reliance on sentiment.

Dogecoin (DOGE)

24h7d30d1yAll time

Considering these risks is essential, and so is timing. For example, right now, 1-day technicals suggest a short-term buying window due to positive momentum, while the 1-month outlook shows strong sell signals, particularly from moving averages. It’s important to note that most meme coins carry the same caveats, so if you’re looking for a proven meme asset, DOGE remains the best option.

2. Shiba Inu (SHIB) – Ethereum-Based Dogecoin Rival With DeFi Ambitions

Shiba Inu SHIB 2.97% was launched in 2020 on Ethereum. It offers real DeFi use cases, which makes it stand out from most other meme coins. The Shiba Inu ecosystem is continually growing thanks to its Layer 2 network, Shibarium. Currently, SHIB is available on major exchanges and is trading at $0.0000087.

Shiba Inu (SHIB)

24h7d30d1yAll time

It carries the same downsides we mentioned above for Dogecoin, plus added exposure to Ethereum’s gas fees and network congestion, as well as roadmap risk tied to Shibarium and broader ecosystem execution. But this goes both ways — successful upgrades could boost sentiment and strengthen utility and long-term relevance.

3. Pepe (PEPE) – Deflationary Meme Coin Known for Viral Marketing

Pepe PEPE 5.07% was built on Ethereum and launched in April 2023. It reached a $1 billion market cap in three weeks and now sits at $2.70B. Its initial 420.69 trillion token supply is being reduced through ongoing burns; yet, a high circulating volume maintains an ultra-low per-token valuation. Despite having no utility, its strong community keeps PEPE relevant.

Pepe (PEPE)

24h7d30d1yAll time

While it remains one of the top meme coins by market capitalization, it comes with higher liquidity and whale concentration risks than the previous two entries on our list. This makes price swings more sensitive to large holders. Despite this, it continues to post periodic bursts of demand.

4. Bonk (BONK) – First Dog-Themed Meme Coin on Solana

Bonk BONK 2.70% is a Solana-based meme coin themed around Shiba Inu. It launched with a major airdrop on December 25, 2022, and helped drive Solana’s recovery in 2023. BONK is available on major exchanges, including Binance and Coinbase, with a market cap of $1.71B. Even though it doesn’t have a formal roadmap, its active community keeps it relevant.

Bonk (BONK2)

24h7d30d1yAll time

In addition to being a meme coin, BONK also powers tools such as BonkSwap and BonkBot, as well as NFT drops, which, like SHIB, introduce both pros and cons. On one hand, it introduces execution risks and ties BONK’s valuation to continued product adoption and Solana’s performance. On the other hand, successful integrations could reinforce its utility and boost interest.

5. dogwifhat (WIF) – Top Solana Dog Meme Coin With High Volatility

Launched on Solana in 2023, dogwifhat WIF 5.36% quickly became one of the top dog meme coins. It’s listed on major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase and trades at $0.38. Over the last 12 months, it has seen sharp rallies followed by deep pullbacks, which show WIF’s speculative nature and extreme sensitivity to sentiment.

Dogwifhat (WIF)

24h7d30d1yAll time

In fact, its valuation is almost entirely based on market mood and virality. Another risk is high holder concentration, which has allowed coordinated sell-offs in the past. dogwifhat is not for the faint of heart, but its strong brand recognition, Solana-native liquidity, and ability to rebound during meme coin cycles keep it relevant for high-risk traders.

Best New and Upcoming Meme Coins Reviewed

Crypto traders and investors are often drawn to new and upcoming meme coins because they can offer greater upside than established projects. This is because, unlike mature meme coins, newer launches typically feature lower valuations, which can amplify price movements in both directions.

This means that they also come with heightened risks. Some of which include limited liquidity, unproven fundamentals, and high sensitivity to market sentiment. While successful launches can deliver life-changing returns, know that many new meme coins fail to sustain momentum. Careful research, timing, and risk management are essential. Here are our top five picks for 2026.

1. Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER) – Upcoming Meme Coin With Bitcoin Layer 2 Functionality

Unlike other meme coins that depend only on online hype, Bitcoin Hyper HYPER +17.78% offers real utility by introducing a Layer 2 solution for Bitcoin. It aims to improve transaction speed and reduce costs. The project could unleash the power of Bitcoin by enabling low-cost payments, applications, and, you guessed it, memes.

However, HYPER faces significant execution challenges. Its Layer 2 technology hasn’t been launched and, thus, remains unproven at scale. Worse yet, tough competition from established L2s, such as Stacks, could threaten adoption. That said, most meme coins offer no utility at all, so HYPER’s unique SVM tech still makes it stand out.

Visit Bitcoin Hyper

2. Fartcoin (FARTCOIN) – Solana-Based AI Meme Coin With Community Focus and Experimental Utility

Fartcoin FARTCOIN 8.84% is a meme crypto on Solana that leans into silly, irreverent humor and has a fixed supply of 1BN tokens. It is listed on centralized exchanges, such as MEXC, and major Solana DEXs like Raydium, which provide it with deep order books and tight spreads. This liquidity enables it to react quickly to market changes.

Fartcoin (FARTCOIN)

24h7d30d1yAll time

It has experienced strong rallies and steep corrections over the past 12 months, which highlights its weaknesses — an almost exclusively speculative nature and narrative fragility tied to AI. Fartcoin’s shorter market history compared to veterans like DOGE and SHIB means its behavior across full cycles is still unknown, although its active community and solid liquidity could maintain its relevance.

3. Maxi Doge (MAXI) – New Meme Coin With High-Leverage, Degen-Trader Branding

Maxi Doge MAXI +10.80% is a trending new meme coin featuring a bodybuilder version of the iconic Shiba Inu dog, which embodies the extreme crypto trading culture. It positions itself as the top dog in the Shiba coin family tree, targeting crypto degens who enjoy the excitement of trading with high leverage.

What’s worth noting is that Maxi Doge has allocated 25% of its total token supply to the “MAXI Fund” for building partnerships, with hints at collaborations with futures trading platforms where the community could potentially trade MAXI with up to 1000x leverage.

Visit Maxi Doge

4. PEPENODE (PEPENODE) – Newest Meme Coin With Utility Through GameFi Features

PEPENODE PEPENODE +21.13% offers virtual mining features. Instead of needing real hardware for deployment, you can build a mining empire digitally by buying and upgrading virtual nodes using the native token, PEPENODE. With each upgrade, 70% of the spent tokens are burnt to boost scarcity. This gives this coin real, game-like utility.

Beyond its high-staking APYs and referral rewards, PEPENODE offers off-chain gameplay before its on-chain rollout later in 2025. The only caveat? Its success hinges on the adoption of the virtual mining ecosystem. Still, among this year’s meme coins, few balance fun, gamification, and deflationary mechanics this neatly.

Visit PEPENODE

5. The Official 67 Coin (67) – Leading Internet Meme Coin for Generation Alpha

The Official 67 Coin is one of the newest meme coins that is inspired by the popular 6-7 internet meme. Max Trevillian, a young adolescent at the time, created the meme coin after going viral in 2025 for shouting 6-7 at a basketball game. According to an account associated with the creator, Max initially created the token so that he could afford a Talaria X3 e-bike.

67 is a Solana Pump.fun token. It has a total supply slightly less than a billion tokens and features a 0.05%-0.95% tax on PumpSwap. The token has zero utility and a relatively small social media following; however, it has managed to become one of the top meme coins since its launch on September 7, 2025.

How Do Meme Coins Work?

Meme coins don’t have their own consensus mechanisms; they instead rely on the security and infrastructure of their host blockchain. Developers, for lack of a better word, create them using tools that streamline the creation process. These include on-chain platforms like pump.fun and Believe, or off-chain platforms like Web3Toolkit.

With these services, developers usually don’t have to create their own liquidity pools, manually code their smart contracts, or handle many other difficulties that come with launching a token. They may even provide automated pricing mechanisms, payment gateways, and launches on decentralized exchanges.

Meme coins are known for their extreme price swings due to their speculative nature. If the projects have minimal utility and low development, they might fade quickly, even if there are thousands emerging every day. Their appeal lies in low entry prices and meme-centric branding, not functionality.

A project’s success depends entirely on the community backing it to drive marketing efforts and sustain momentum. Projects with meme contests, staking rewards, and influencer collaborations keep their relevance.

What to Consider Before Buying Meme Coins

Selecting a meme coin to buy requires checking key factors. Some factors that you should focus on include the strength of the community, the token’s liquidity, and its tokenomics.

You should also consider the underlying blockchain and the transparency of the creators. This careful analysis helps you identify projects with potential and manage risks.

1. Compare Established vs. Newer Meme Coins

When picking a meme coin, first decide if you want something established or new. Established names like Dogecoin or Shiba Inu offer long price histories, big communities, and many exchange listings — easier to trade, usually steadier, but with less explosive upside. New coins can move fast and innovate, but they’re riskier and often thin on liquidity.

Quick checks before buying:

If you prefer predictable liquidity and fewer surprises, established coins fit better. If you’re chasing high-risk, high-reward and can handle swings, newer coins may appeal—just verify contracts, start small, and set exit rules. Matching coin type to your goals — and sticking to a simple, repeatable process — will help you navigate the meme coin space.

2. Assess Community Strength

Meme coins live and die by their community. A loyal, loud, and growing user base is a green flag.

To evaluate this, you should start by measuring engagement on platforms like X and Telegram. This includes looking into follower growth, posting frequency, and active participants (i.e., the number of presale investors or on-chain token holders).

For established projects, you should also check whether influencers, celebrities, or mainstream media outlets have mentioned the coin in any way. Recent mentions reveal potential short-term price spikes. Older mentions are also noteworthy as they could signal that the meme coin has become a household name with staying power.

3. Analyze Liquidity and Market Capitalization

Liquidity is how easily you can buy or sell a cryptocurrency without moving its price much.

If you try to sell 1,000,000 tokens of a small coin with only $20,000 in daily volume, there aren’t enough buyers. Your sale can slam the price from $0.10 to $0.06 in seconds — a 40% drop. That’s low liquidity in action.

Now compare that to Bitcoin. It moved about $62 billion in the last 24 hours. Selling $1 million of BTC barely nudges the price. High liquidity keeps markets steadier, makes execution cleaner, and reduces room for games.

Why this matters:

A simple check is the daily trading volume. Higher volume usually means better liquidity. As a rule of thumb, avoid meme coins trading under $1 million per day. More advanced users can also watch the bid–ask spread; a tight gap (under 1–2%) is another good sign.

Also consider market capitalization. Large-cap meme coins (e.g., multi-billion caps) are typically more liquid and less jumpy but offer fewer explosive runs. Small caps can move fast and sometimes deliver outsized gains, yet they’re easier to manipulate, can vanish from exchanges, and may dilute supply.

This ties to early entry. Getting in early on a low-cap coin can mean better prices and bigger upside if liquidity and demand grow. The downsides are real: thinner order books, higher slippage, greater rug-pull risk, and limited exit routes. If you pursue early entry, size positions modestly, verify the contract from official sources, and track both market cap and volume as they evolve.

4. Prepare for High Volatility

Meme coins can rise and crash very quickly, so treat them as small side bets instead of the main part of your portfolio. Choose in advance how much money you’re truly willing to lose, keep each position modest, and avoid going all-in on new, low-liquidity tokens.

Before making a purchase, check the following basics: price history, trading volume, recent news, and what’s happening on X, Telegram, or Discord. Set clear profit targets and a level where you’ll cut losses, and write those down before you enter.

Taking profits in stages can help you lock in gains while still leaving a little room to run. Expect sharp swings, don’t stare at the chart all day, and avoid changing your plan just because candles turned red or green for an hour.

Why this preparation matters:

5. Review the Tokenomics

Tokenomics, a.k.a. token economics, describes how the tokens of a crypto project are created, distributed, and managed. We can’t go over every factor that makes good or bad tokenomics here because it’s a very vast field.

For example, a project with a total supply of 10 trillion tokens, with only 10% in circulation and the rest locked with the founders, has poor tokenomics and is prone to manipulation. If the founders start selling, the price will quickly crash. Similarly, if they release a large portion of tokens, the price will collapse due to inflation.

In contrast, a meme coin with a fixed supply of 100 million tokens with 70% circulating, 20% held for future development, and 10% for rewards has good tokenomics. That balance promotes investor confidence, keeps inflation low, and promotes long-term holding.

To analyze tokenomics before investing:

6. Consider the Blockchain It Runs On

When choosing a meme coin, it’s also important to look at which blockchain it runs on. This is particularly important if you plan to use a decentralized exchange because it determines transaction speed, trading fees, and overall safety.

For example, buying $20 worth of an Ethereum meme coin might cost $10 to $20 in gas fees during network congestion, while the same trade on Solana or Base costs less than a cent and confirms in under a second. High trading costs eat into profits, especially for small, frequent trades.

The underlying blockchain also impacts liquidity, but it doesn’t matter much when comparing meme coins in large chains like Ethereum, Solana, and BSC, only for smaller, niche blockchains. You can easily assess transaction costs by using a platform like our live Ethereum gas fees tracker.

7. Evaluate Viral Appeal and Narrative

Viral appeal and a clear story pull people in and move prices. Favor memes and themes that feel familiar and travel fast. Scan Twitter/X, Reddit, TikTok, and Discord for organic hashtags, running jokes, and repeat posts. A community that makes its own content and self-organizes is a strong signal.

Creators and public figures can kick-start momentum, and well-timed campaigns, giveaways, and playful storytelling keep it going. Coverage in crypto outlets and mainstream press widens the audience beyond core holders and can push a project into broader awareness.

Caution is essential because forced hype, paid shilling without organic chatter, and recycled narratives often fade quickly. Pair this review with basics like supply, liquidity, and roadmap. Viral waves can be brief—plan entries and exits, take profits, and size positions conservatively.

8. Use Scam Detection Tools

After you have done the aforementioned steps, it is best practice to use some scam detection tools, just in case. You should remember that these tools are only as powerful as the user, and they are not a substitute for an expert opinion. That being said, here are some tools you can use, and they are useful for:

What Our Expert Says...

Tsvetomir Koychev

Content Lead, Exchanges & Wallets

“Best Wallet’s built-in scam detection automatically flags suspicious airdrops and risky token contracts. It helps traders avoid wallet drain traps and phishing links that commonly target meme coin buyers and high-profile token launches.“

Tsvetomir Koychev

Content Lead, Exchanges & Wallets

What Types of Meme Coins are There?

So far in 2025, dog meme coins have been leading the market thanks to their strong price correlation and structured nature. Yet, all meme coins are still evolving with themes that tap into culture, tech, and identity. Understanding the different types can help you spot trends early, assess risk more accurately, and build a meme coin strategy that aligns with your goals.

Dog Meme Coins

Dog meme coins are crypto projects inspired by internet memes featuring dogs. They often start as a joke and later evolve into speculative assets with massive communities. The movement began in 2013 with Dogecoin (DOGE), a fork of Litecoin featuring the Shiba Inu “Doge” meme.

While DOGE was originally a parody, it quickly gained serious momentum during the 2021 bull run, amplified by Elon Musk’s endorsements. This momentum caused the start of the dog meme coin wave, causing new coins to appear, including:

Cat Meme Coins

Cat meme coins are based on feline internet culture — think viral cat videos, memes, and the internet’s long-standing obsession with cats. While dog meme coins dominated early meme coin cycles, cat-themed tokens gained traction in 2023 and exploded in 2024 as investors sought the “next DOGE.”

Some of the biggest successes include:

AI Meme Coins

AI meme coins are projects that merge artificial intelligence with meme culture. Some tokens are AI-generated, meaning everything behind the project is made using generative AI, including the token’s concept, branding, and even tokenomics.

Notable examples include:

Pop Culture and Internet Memes

Pop culture and internet meme coins are based on viral internet moments, celebrities, or iconic characters. They are often launched rapidly to capitalize on trending topics. They’re part meme, part cultural timestamp, and fully speculative.

Lately, we’ve seen a rise in parody-style memes and TikTok-fueled tokens like Tralalero Tralala (TRALALERO), inspired by the Italian brainrot trend. There has also been a rise in the China-theme memes category, such as PeiPei (PEIPEI).

Some coins tied to viral memes include:

These coins rely entirely on momentum: a trending meme, TikTok clip, or X post can send prices soaring. Many originate from platforms like Pump.fun, a key tool for creating meme coins, which saw over 12 million tokens launched since its debut, according to Dune on-chain data.

How to Buy Meme Coins

Learn the terrain before you purchase meme coins in 2026. Hype works swiftly, fraud is widespread, and prices may soar or plummet within minutes. Make sure you use secure tools, check details, and never allocate money that you can’t easily afford to lose.

This is how to do it without trapfalls:

1. Choose a self-custody wallet (Best Wallet for Ethereum or Phantom for Solana, for example).
2. Buy base crypto (ETH or SOL) to pay network fees and make swaps.
3. Choose a trusted venue like a major CEX or a reputable DEX like Uniswap or Raydium.
4. Paste the token’s official contract address from the project’s site or verified channels.
5. Start with a small test trade, set tight slippage, and cap your position size.
6. Confirm the transaction on a block explorer and add the token to your wallet.
7. Track your position with a portfolio app and set clear profit and loss levels.

After buying, keep watch. Meme coins often follow social chatter, so monitor project posts, liquidity changes, and contract updates. Use explorers to review holder concentration and liquidity locks. Stick to the best wallets for storing meme coins and avoid impulse trades. Steady research, simple rules, and strict risk limits do more for results than luck.

What Our Expert Says...

Ihssan El Medkouri

SEO Content Editor, Meme Coins Expert

“When investing, always have an exit strategy. Decide in advance at what price you will take profits or cut losses. Also, limit your exposure by only allocating a small portion of your portfolio to meme coins, as they are extremely high-risk assets.“

Ihssan El Medkouri

SEO Content Editor, Meme Coins Expert

What is the Best Meme Coin Trading Platform?

The best platform for meme coin trading depends on what you are looking for, from low fees to ease of use to access to new tokens. Let’s explore a couple of top options:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)