Meme Coins & AI: Crypto’s Wild Ride from Trump Tokens to Tomorrow’s Tech

BeInCrypto had a delightful chat with the crew at LBank, who gave us the lowdown on meme coins making a comeback, AI tokens taking over, and how Europe’s new MiCA regulation is shaking things up — spoiler alert: it’s like giving that crypto party a strict bouncer but with style. 🤖💸

If you thought meme coins were just a passing fad fueled by internet nonsense and bad decisions, buckle up. Thanks to the US President (yes, that one), 2025 kicked off with a Trump-branded meme coin hitting a dizzying $8.8 billion market cap. The irony? Insider traders cashed out faster than you can say “pump and dump,” leaving the rest of us with scars and lighter wallets. 📉😭

Eric He of LBank explained it well: the TRUMP token’s meteoric rise and fall was basically the crypto equivalent of a Hollywood blockbuster—lots of hype, dramatic crashes, and people asking why they didn’t just stick to Netflix subscriptions.

“That rollercoaster probably scared the meme coin life out of some investors,” says Eric, “but honestly, it’s who knew meme coins had such a flair for drama?”

After similar “adventures” involving MELANIA and LIBRA tokens, retail investors have started questioning whether meme coins are less “investment” and more “crypto carnival ride.”

Is the Meme Coin Party Over or Just on a Coffee Break?

With the market getting tired of pump-and-dump shenanigans, meme coin trading has taken a nosedive. The hype is less “to the moon” and more “please, not again.” The total meme coin market cap has been free-falling since early 2025, looking eerily similar to its September 2024 slump.

Macro factors, like rising interest rates making everyone a bit grumpy, haven’t helped either. The “normies” (casual investors) are running for the hills, leaving meme coins to fend for themselves in a crypto version of the Hunger Games.

Eric He: “Meme coins depend on hype, social media frenzy, and the occasional celebrity shoutout. When interest fades, so does the magic. It’s like trying to keep a houseplant alive with just good vibes and nothing else.”

Still, the market isn’t dead yet—$14.5 billion in trading volume and a $57 billion market cap say otherwise. The LBank team expects a revival, and not the “zombie apocalypse” kind.

Why LBank Thinks Meme Coins are Playing the Long Game

Mario Iemma, who presumably knows all things Spanish and meme coins, argues that what we’re seeing is a normal downturn, not the death of the genre. The crowd’s still hanging around, just catching their breath.

“Think of it as meme coins going to a self-help seminar,” Mario jokes. “They’re volatile, sure—but they’re not disappearing. Community support remains strong, and liquidity keeps the engine running.”

Mario predicts the next surge will come from gaming collabs, real-world use cases, or possibly when someone famous tweets a cat meme with a secret wallet address. On that topic, AI is entering the chat.

AI Isn’t Just Making Your Spam Smarter — Now It’s Making Crypto Smarter

The crypto world has flirted with AI for a while, but now AI systems like Grok have graduated from just analyzing and trading tokens to actually creating and launching their own tokens. Imagine a robot minting coins while you’re still deciding what to have for breakfast. 🍳🤖

This could turbocharge innovation by automating complex tokenomics and governance setups, slashing development time and costs, and injecting new life into decentralized finance.

Eric He: “AI could basically become the ‘mad scientist’ of crypto tokens, cooking up new ideas faster than humans can say ‘blockchain.’ That means rapid experimentation and a chance for communities to pioneer next-gen assets.”

Mario adds this is just the beginning: AI tokens might start as an oddity but could explode in popularity, much like meme coins did from a joke to serious market players. Soon, creating a token might be as easy as clicking a “Make Me Rich” button (we’re still waiting on that one).

“Imagine no coding, no headaches—just pure AI wizardry launching your next crypto masterpiece,” Mario muses.

Problems? Oh, You Bet. Security & Access Hurdles Ahead

But, before you hand AI your life savings, there’s a catch: speed and complexity can outpace regulation and community oversight. Meaning AI could flood the market with scammy or low-quality tokens faster than you can say ‘digital disaster.’ The “black box” nature of AI decision-making doesn’t help; no one likes mysterious algorithms pulling the strings.

Eric warns: “Trust is fragile, and if users can’t peek behind the curtain, skepticism will grow like weeds in a neglected garden.”

Mario nods in agreement, pointing out that with AI-generated tokens potentially becoming widespread, the crypto world will need better filters, vetting systems, and security audits—areas where exchanges like LBank are already digging in.

“Think of us as the crypto bouncers, making sure the AI party doesn’t turn into a free-for-all,” Mario quips.

Europe’s Crypto Makeover: MiCA Brings the Rules (Finally)

Meanwhile, in the land of punctual public transport and irresistible pastries, the EU rolled out MiCA last December, becoming the first to craft a full-on crypto rulebook across all member states. Big names like Standard Chartered and Crypto.com have hopped on board, proving that regulation can, occasionally, be a good thing.

Mario shared that MiCA has helped make the whole ecosystem feel less like the Wild West and more like a well-organized bazaar. Increased transparency and compliance bolster trust, encouraging banks and big investors to take crypto seriously.

“It’s like we finally swapped out the dodgy street magician for a licensed performer—you’re still entertained, but now there’s less risk of having your wallet stolen,” Mario says.

That said, MiCA’s high compliance costs aren’t exactly small potatoes, especially for startups navigating the expensive maze of capital requirements, fees, and operational burdens.

Smaller Fish Struggle, Bigger Fish Swim Smoothly

Eric pointed out that startups find MiCA’s gatekeeping tough, casting a shadow on their dreams to conquer Europe’s crypto market. Meanwhile, institutional investors seem thrilled, seeing MiCA as a green light to pour capital into the sector.

“It’s the classic tale of a velvet rope—makes the party exclusive and sometimes leaves the best dancers outside,” Eric sighs.

Still, LBank’s experience suggests playing nice with regulations can open vast opportunities, and future tweaks to MiCA might ease the heavy load on smaller players. Other crypto-hungry regions would do well to watch and learn, lest they unintentionally build walls instead of bridges.

2025-04-25 03:45