Memecoin Global Market Landscape: Users, Narratives, and the Deconstruction of Community Culture

Intermediate4/23/2025, 5:27:02 AM
JE Labs conducts in-depth research across six major regions in the Memecoin market, uncovering the investment logic, community behaviors, and trading ecosystems shaped by diverse cultural backgrounds—empowering global strategy development for crypto projects.

1. Overview

In recent years, the Memecoin market has rapidly expanded across the globe, with distinct ecosystems emerging in the United States, China, South Korea, and Europe. In each of these markets, key opinion leaders (KOLs) play a pivotal role in shaping community engagement, market sentiment, and trading trends.

This article focuses on six major markets—United States, China, South Korea, Europe, Japan, and Russia—identifying their most representative Memecoin KOLs and analyzing their trading activity, communication methods, and community influence. By studying the characteristics of KOLs in each market, we aim to better understand the global propagation logic and trading patterns of Memecoins.

1.1 Research Objectives

Compare the development of Memecoin in different regions——Compare its trading volume, regulatory policies, KOL influence, etc.

Screen representative KOLs from various regions——Select the most influential KOLs in the Memecoin market in the United States, China, South Korea and Europe. And study the voice, communication methods and audience preferences of KOLs in different regions in the market to find out the market differences.

Summarize the characteristics of active KOLs in the community——Analyze the social media strategies, community interaction methods of these KOLs and their impact on transaction trends, thereby providing a reference for projects that want to enter the corresponding market.

1.2 Logic of selecting research area

In the global crypto market, Memecoin, as a unique crypto ecosystem, shows great regional differences due to its community-driven nature, cultural influence and market speculation. This report selectedChina, the United States, Europe, South Korea and Japan, Russia As the main analysis object, the reasons are as follows:

USA:As a global cryptocurrency exchangecore area, which has long dominated Memecoin’s liquidity and trading volume. Many well-known Memecoins (such as $DOGE, $SHIB) originated from the United States and have formed a huge ecosystem around the world.

China:havehuge investorBasic and highly active community, user enthusiasm for trading Memecoin through DeFi and CEX remains high despite regulatory restrictions. The Chinese market is highly speculative, which often drives short-term market trends and even spawns Meme tokens with local characteristics.

South Korea:always beenThe most active in the worldOne of the cryptocurrency markets, especially outstanding in short-term trading and community operations. Korean investors are prone to high-frequency trading and FOMO mentality, causing local Memecoin to often experience extreme market prices in a short period of time. In addition, South Korea’s K-Pop culture also provides rich creative sources for Memecoin narratives.

Europe:Compared with the more speculative Asian markets, European users are more inclined to cultural identity and long-term value investment. Many local Memecoins combine political satire, social movements and other elements to formunique market style。

Japan:The Memecoin market is significantly influenced by ACG (animation, comics, games) culture and the two-dimensional brand effect. The project content is mostly based on anime characters, Internet memes, and VTubers, forming a local Meme model that is different from other countries.

Russia:Affected by international sanctions and the local social environment, the Russian Memecoin market is distinctly closed and speculative. High inflation and the depreciation of the ruble have driven the demand for safe havens. Cryptocurrencies have become an alternative investment tool for speculation and hedging asset shrinkage.

2. Global Memecoin Market Overview

2.1 Memecoins vs. Traditional Crypto Projects

Though both Memecoins and traditional crypto projects (such as layer-1 blockchains, DeFi protocols, and DApps) belong to the broader cryptocurrency domain, they differ significantly in terms of core value proposition, driving forces, and how the market perceives and reacts to them.


Comparing Memecoin with traditional crypto projects

2.2 Market Characteristics by Region

The development of Memecoins across different regions is deeply influenced by local culture, regulations, and market preferences, resulting in substantial variation:


Comparison of market characteristics across regions

USA: The U.S. has a vast base of crypto investors, including both institutions and retail traders. While institutions tend to favor mainstream assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), retail investors—especially younger generations—show a strong affinity for Memecoins.

China: Despite strict government regulations leading to the shutdown of local exchanges, Chinese investors actively participate in Memecoin trading via OTC desks and offshore platforms. The appetite for high-risk, high-return assets remains strong, fueling speculative momentum and occasional local Meme narratives.

South Korea: According to South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit (KoFIU), over 6 million citizens—more than 10% of the population—participate in crypto. Centralized exchanges, particularly Upbit (with ~80% market share), dominate the trading landscape. Korean investors exhibit a preference for high-potential altcoins and accept the associated risks, contributing to the high ratio of speculative trades.

Europe: While regulatory frameworks remain relatively relaxed, European investors favor conservative investment strategies and tend to focus on blue-chip crypto assets. Memecoins are present but occupy a smaller market share. However, projects with political or cultural narratives do find resonance in certain communities.

Japan:Thanks to the influence of anime and gaming culture (ACG), Japanese users are particularly receptive to anime-themed tokens. Overall trading activity is moderate, with regulatory bodies requiring all exchanges to be licensed. Community discussions are most active on platforms like 5ch and X (formerly Twitter).

Russia: Faced with international sanctions, Russia has cultivated an active DEX and P2P trading environment. Telegram-based communities are highly speculative in nature, though their engagement tends to be short-lived. Occasionally, politically-themed Memecoins surface, reflecting socio-political narratives in the crypto space.

3. Regional Memecoin Ecosystem Analysis

3.1 United States

Top Narratives: Trump & Musk: The core of the U.S. memecoin ecosystem revolves around two influential figures—Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Traders closely monitor their social media activity, analyzing profile pictures, bios, retweets, and tweet content for potential narrative cues to fuel new memecoin hype. Even small gestures, such as a change in Musk’s avatar or a campaign statement from Trump, can spark the creation of a new meme token. For instance, Trump’s former X bio stated “45th President of America.” When he announced his re-election bid, many speculated he would change it to “45th & 47th President of America,” which led to the creation of tokens like $47 and $4547 on the Solana chain.

Secondary Narratives from Political, Economic, and Social Events: The second tier of narratives includes influential figures from politics, technology, and beyond—such as Gabe Newell (founder of Steam) and Vitalik Buterin (Ethereum co-founder). U.S. memecoins are also closely tied to events and public sentiment. For example, Trump’s promise to pardon Ross Ulbricht (founder of Silk Road) triggered a rally in $FreeRoss. When Trump claimed he would release the “Lolita Island” list, related tokens also became speculation targets. In terms of social news, Luigi’s trial hype caused the $LUIGI token to surge, making it one of the top “celebrity coins.”

Narratives of Positivity and Resilience: Many U.S.-born memecoins carry emotionally charged, universally resonant narratives. For instance, when Trump was attacked and shouted “FIGHT,” it inspired the memecoin $FIGHT—symbolizing an indomitable spirit. $FAFO (short for “Fuck Around and Find Out”) emerged as a satire of systemic inefficiency and corruption in U.S. politics. Meanwhile, $PNUT, symbolized by a squirrel, represents justice and perseverance in both religious and Western cultural contexts.

Community-Driven and Long-Term Holding: Unlike some other regions, U.S. memecoin investors tend to focus on long-term community building rather than short-term speculation. Tokens like $FAFO, rooted in Trump’s political stances, have grown robust communities with committed “diamond hand” holders. This narrative-driven consensus, sustained by strong communities, gives U.S. memecoins greater longevity and influence.

3.2 China

Mainstream Narratives Follow Western Trends, Lacking Local Identity

The Chinese memecoin market largely follows Western trends, with investors favoring narratives already popular overseas. However, cultural disconnects hinder engagement with some Western memes. For example, although $PEPE exploded in the West, its early development received minimal participation from Chinese traders due to cultural and language barriers—many simply didn’t “get the joke.” Furthermore, since crypto news flows primarily in English, Chinese retail investors often struggle to obtain timely information, resulting in delayed market entry. Most memecoins also use English names, making it difficult for local narratives to gain global traction, further limiting the development of domestic memecoin projects.

Weaker Local Ecosystem, Short-Lived Hype Cycles

While localized memecoins do exist in China, they often rely on short-term buzz and lack sustainable storytelling, leading to short lifespans. For instance, during a Spring Festival Gala comedy skit, actor Shen Teng mentioned $DogeKing—coincidentally the name of a token already listed on a CEX—prompting a brief market rally. Since then, Spring Festival-related memecoins have emerged annually as traders seek angles based on gala content. Some cultural IPs like Nezha, when released in North America, inspired tokens such as $NEZHA and $AOBING, attracting short-term attention. Early Chinese Ponzi-style token projects also had meme attributes, but due to regulatory crackdowns—like the Pangu coin being classified as a scam—they eventually vanished.

Focus on AI and Tech Themes

Chinese investors show strong interest in AI and technology-themed memecoins, often aligning with broader tech trends. Local tokens like DeepSeek or AI Goku, developed by institutions such as the University of Hong Kong, once sparked a wave of similarly named memecoins. Unlike official overseas AI platforms that often launch tokens via TGE and list on exchanges—thus adding credibility—many Chinese AI memecoins are highly speculative. Investors should exercise caution to avoid falling into short-term pump-and-dump traps.

3.3 South Korea

High-Risk Appetite

Korean society’s rigid class structure fuels a collective drive for wealth accumulation through high-risk, high-reward investments. Young investors in their 20s and 30s often favor venture capital-style opportunities, with memecoin trading among their top picks. The Korean memecoin market is fast-paced and highly volatile, driven by intense community enthusiasm, but profits must be seized in narrow windows. The trading style leans toward short-term speculation rather than long-term value.

Strong Ties to Pop Culture

Korean traders often blend K-pop, drama, and internet meme culture to fuel memecoin trends. Earlier this year, the film Crypto Man, loosely based on the LUNA crash, featured a fictional token called $MOMMY. This inspired real-life trading hype, pushing $MOMMY’s market cap to $5 million at its peak. Another instance involved rumors that Squid Game Season 2 would feature a crypto token, prompting a memecoin frenzy. Such narratives usually rely on information asymmetry and short-lived “get-rich-quick” effects, but often collapse quickly—leaving latecomers holding the bag.

Extreme Volatility and High Turnover

Due to Korea’s speculative style, memecoin turnover is significantly higher than in the West. Rapid capital movement causes extreme price fluctuations. Trading volume is highly correlated with social media activity, especially on Telegram, Twitter, Naver Café, and KakaoTalk, where users constantly share strategies and market sentiment. If a meme topic goes viral, its token’s volume can spike within hours. Conversely, once attention fades, volume vanishes and the project sinks into obscurity..

3.4 Europe

Narratives Driven by Social Issues and Political Satire

European memecoin culture often incorporates elements of political humor and social commentary. Projects tend to embed irony and critical reflections on political figures, ideologies, or economic conditions. For instance, during the European energy crisis, tokens like $GAS and $OIL became hot topics on-chain, with narratives poking fun at policy mishandling or energy dependency. Similarly, tokens like $MERKEL or $MACRON once sparked short-lived rallies during key EU summits. While such coins are often short-lived, they demonstrate Europeans’ unique preference for meme narratives with political depth and sarcastic undertones.

Fragmented Language and Market Differences

Unlike more unified markets like the U.S. or South Korea, the European memecoin ecosystem is fragmented due to language diversity and cultural nuance. A meme that resonates in France might not translate well in Germany or Spain. This leads to local communities preferring their own small-scale memecoin projects, but rarely achieving cross-border virality. European traders often participate in international memes (like $PEPE or $DOGE), but local memecoins tend to stay confined within national boundaries.

Growing Influence of Artists and Visual Design

European memecoins often prioritize aesthetics, visual quality, and cultural expression. A growing number of European NFT artists and indie designers are participating in memecoin branding, contributing original artwork and lore. For example, memecoins on chains like Arbitrum and Base that feature hand-drawn avatars or vintage aesthetics tend to attract more European attention. The narrative is not just about humor or hype, but about creating an expressive, even subversive identity. This artistic infusion gives European meme culture a distinct flavor—less about pure speculation and more about storytelling and visual resonance.

3.5 Japan

Otaku Culture and Niche Symbolism

Japanese memecoins are deeply intertwined with otaku culture—anime, gaming, idols, and internet folklore are all common inspirations. For example, the token $SAKURA, symbolizing cherry blossoms, is tied to both seasonal imagery and traditional aesthetics. Another example, $NEET (referring to “Not in Education, Employment, or Training”), reflects a specific internet subculture in Japan, resonating with local users through its self-deprecating and community-driven style.

Strong Emphasis on Aesthetics and Emotional Identity

Many Japanese memecoins emphasize visual style and emotional resonance. Memes are carefully designed to evoke feelings like nostalgia, cuteness (kawaii), or philosophical detachment. Tokens like $SHINZO (meaning “heart”) or $YUME (meaning “dream”) use poetic naming and soft-color palettes, attracting users seeking emotional or spiritual connection, rather than just profit. This stands in stark contrast to the more aggressive, irony-driven memes of the West.

Community Culture of Collecting and Holding

Japanese communities tend to value collection and long-term ownership. Instead of chasing rapid gains, many investors treat memecoins as digital collectibles, similar to rare trading cards or gacha items. Forums like 5ch and platforms like LINE play a central role in sharing coin lore and organizing holders. Projects that tap into nostalgic IPs, such as old anime series or retro gaming references, often gather dedicated communities willing to hold regardless of price volatility.

Barriers to International Influence

Despite a rich cultural base, Japanese memecoins rarely break into the global market. Language barriers and region-specific humor make international traction difficult. Moreover, Japan’s stricter financial regulations around crypto limit listings and exposure. While a few tokens like $INU-based themes have achieved modest overseas visibility, most Japanese meme tokens remain domestically focused, thriving in tight-knit, culturally specific circles.

3.6 Southeast Asia

A Fusion of Trends, Humor, and Community

Southeast Asia’s memecoin market reflects a blend of Western meme culture and local creativity. With high internet penetration, widespread use of mobile apps, and vibrant online communities, countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia have developed grassroots meme ecosystems. These often mix Western internet humor (like rage faces or Wojak) with local slang, politics, or pop culture references. For example, $NASI (referring to rice in Bahasa) or $TRABAJO (meaning “work” in Tagalog) emerge as tokens that parody daily life, labor issues, or food culture, connecting with everyday emotional realities.

KOL-Driven Ecosystem and Telegram Virality

Influencers (KOLs) play a central role in Southeast Asia’s memecoin scene. From Twitter to Telegram and TikTok, local KOLs often launch or promote meme tokens directly, sometimes in tight coordination with developer teams. Their reach and credibility drive rapid retail participation. Popular Telegram groups often turn into memecoin launchpads, where narratives form and circulate within hours. While some of these tokens are pump-and-dump in nature, others manage to build small, persistent communities.

Language Hybridization and Meme Accessibility

Memes in Southeast Asia often feature a hybrid of English and local languages (Taglish, Singlish, etc.), enhancing accessibility and relatability. This allows memecoins to reach both domestic and regional audiences, sometimes even attracting international meme hunters due to the exotic appeal. Memes are often highly visual—GIFs, sticker packs, and emoji chains are common in group chats and marketing.

Religious and Cultural Sensitivities

Compared to Western meme cultures, Southeast Asia’s meme communities tend to avoid explicit content or overly dark humor, given the region’s stronger religious and family values. Memecoins that stay respectful while still being fun, such as those themed around animals, street food, or everyday frustrations, are more likely to go viral. Projects that cross certain cultural lines (e.g., mocking religion or political authority) can quickly backfire, losing community support.

Emerging Bridges with GameFi and Community DAOs

Some Southeast Asian memecoins are evolving beyond pure speculation, bridging into GameFi or DAO-like structures. For instance, $DURIAN (based on the infamous fruit) launched a community-governed game prototype, while $SATE (an Indonesian food meme) integrated with a staking DApp. These projects showcase an emerging trend—memecoins acting as a gateway to deeper crypto participation among retail users. This hybridization of culture, community, and utility is giving the region’s meme market unique developmental potential.

4. Summary of Memecoin KOL Characteristics by Region

4.1 United States and Europe

Representative KOL in the West — Murad @MustStopMurad

Murad’s Insights on Memecoins:

Memecoins have long been dismissed as low-value “shitcoins” due to their lack of technical backing and real-world applications, often driven instead by market sentiment and community consensus. However, Murad assigns deeper meaning to the memecoin narrative. He believes a good memecoin serves functions such as fun, reducing loneliness, creating identity and emotional resonance, instilling a sense of mission and meaning, and ultimately bringing entertainment and happiness.


Murad’s insights on Memecoin

Murad’s Criteria for Selecting Memecoins:

Market capitalization range:Focus on mid-cap coins with market caps between $5 million and $200 million.

Murad’s Criteria for Selecting Memecoins:

  • Market Cap Range: Focuses on mid-cap tokens with a market cap between $5 million and $200 million.
  • Preferred Chains: Favors projects on Solana and Ethereum; excludes chains like Base, Ton, and Sui.
  • Project Longevity: Chooses tokens that have been in existence for at least six months and have experienced at least two 70% drawdowns.

Murad’s Recent Investment Performance:

About four months ago, Murad bought 10.25 million $SPX tokens for around $98,000. The value has since surged to approximately $7.89 million, yielding a 7,900% return. However, his crypto portfolio recently dropped by around 45% in two weeks, incurring a net loss of about $11.1 million, mainly due to $SPX dropping from $0.72 to $0.40.

Characteristics of Western Memecoin KOLs:

  • Avatar and Identity: Avatars often feature strong visual symbols—Pepe, BAYC, Milady NFTs, or pixel art like CryptoPunks—signifying deep involvement in the meme sector, early crypto participation, and notable industry influence. Bios typically include keywords like: meme, memecoin, gem, gem hunter/finder, 100X, degen, altcoin, alpha, signaling speculative intent and meme alignment.
  • Content Strategy:
  • Sustained Promotion: KOLs often focus on one memecoin over 1–2 weeks rather than shilling multiple new tokens daily.
  • Multi-Angle Marketing: Beyond simple “buy” signals, they weave narratives around market sentiment, KOL moves, and news. If a memecoin is linked to Elon Musk or Trump, they amplify those associations to fuel FOMO.
  • Emotional Manipulation: When a memecoin rallies, they hint at further upside; during pullbacks, they pivot to “long-term hold” or “community belief” rhetoric to maintain investor morale.
  • Tweet Engagement:
  • Highly interactive, often posting open-ended questions like “What is the next 100x Memecoin?” with tags like #memecoin #100x #crypto. This encourages engagement and crowd-sourced tips, helping them gauge hot tokens while boosting algorithmic reach.
  • Community Management:
  • Run semi-closed Telegram/Discord groups where the flow of information is centralized and moderated.
  1. Scheduled Updates: Daily posts on memecoin news, trends, and insights.
  2. Silent Mode: General members often can’t chat freely; they express support via likes or retweets.
  3. Internal FOMO Creation: KOLs share “buy wall” reports, celebrity interest, or upcoming exchange listings to drive conversions.
  • Overall, Western KOLs adopt a more brand-oriented, long-term growth model rather than pure hype cycles.

4.2 China

Representative KOL in China — 0xWizard @0xcryptowizard

0xWizard’s View on the Memecoin Narrative:

0xWizard believes that the fusion of AI and memecoins represents the next wave in crypto. He argues that memecoins aren’t just about hype—they embody community resonance, emotional connection, and a shared sense of purpose. He views projects like $ACT, $GOAT, and $BMT as part of an “AI Renaissance,” where AI evolves from a mere assistant into a free-spirited, autonomous being.

0xWizard’s Memecoin Selection Criteria:

  1. Decentralized Token Distribution: Avoids highly controlled projects dominated by whales or core teams.
  2. New Narratives & Sectors: Prefers memecoins that feature innovative storytelling and market relevance (e.g., $ACT blending AI and meme culture).
  3. Community Engagement: Values projects with highly active and sticky communities built on strong consensus.
  4. Small Cap, High Potential: Looks for low-cap tokens with big upside potential in early stages.
  5. Timeliness: Prioritizes trending, controversial, or breakout tokens. For example, $ACT fits both meme and AI hype cycles.

Influence of 0xWizard:

Wizard’s pinned tweet is a memecoin tutorial, helping onboard beginners and broadening his reach. Unlike typical high-frequency shillers, he shares in-depth industry insights, attracting both meme investors and Web3 professionals. After successfully launching $ACT and $GOAT, his reputation skyrocketed. His early-stage entry, community marketing, and accurate calls helped get both tokens listed on exchanges. These wins boosted his credibility and solidified his brand. In the Chinese crypto scene, Wizard stands out for blending sharp market calls with strong community branding.

Characteristics of Chinese Memecoin KOLs:

  • Business Model:

Many Chinese KOLs partner with trading bots (e.g., GMGN, PEPE, UniversalX, PinkPig) or CEXs (Binance, Bybit, OKX) to earn commissions through referrals.

Their strategy is more revenue- and growth-driven, with a focus on short-term returns via airdrops, trading incentives, and user acquisition.

  • Content Strategy:

Highly traffic-driven, aiming to capture fast-moving trends instead of long-term project support.

Frequently post contract addresses (CAs) of multiple tokens, optimizing for Twitter’s algorithm.

Use tags like #Token or $Token to enter trending traffic pools and rapidly gain followers.

  • Community Management:

Telegram and WeChat groups are highly active. Unlike Western “silent” groups, Chinese groups encourage open discussion.

Chats cover trades, gossip, fund flows, and daily life, fostering emotional stickiness.

The structure is often pyramid-like:

  1. Core Admins: KOLs or assistants who post key updates.
  2. Active Contributors: Alpha hunters, degen traders, and “bag-shillers.”
  3. General Members: Mostly lurkers and copy traders who follow trends passively.

4.3 South Korea

Summary of KOL Characteristics in South Korea

Small population base, widespread distribution of KOL content: Due to South Korea’s relatively small population base, KOLs in the cryptocurrency space have not formed clear niche divisions like those in Europe, the United States, or China. Most KOLs have a broad content coverage, typically posting a combination of airdrops, industry news, BTC market trends, secondary market research, on-chain hot topics, and macroeconomic assessments on a single account. This “casting a wide net” content strategy attracts audiences of varying levels and reflects the relatively concentrated yet diverse demand within the South Korean market.

Lack of niche KOLs focusing on Memecoins: Unlike in Europe, the United States, or the Chinese-speaking world, South Korea has not yet seen the rise of leading KOLs specializing in the Memecoin space. While some KOLs may mention Memecoin-related projects, they do not delve into them in-depth, follow them long-term, or establish dedicated Memecoin communities.

Multi-platform operations — Telegram, YouTube, Instagram: South Korean KOLs are not limited to a single platform but enhance their exposure and influence through multi-platform content management. For instance, on YouTube, KOLs mainly post market analysis videos, often featuring candlestick charts and strong visual elements, which are highly click-inducing. Instagram, as a supplementary platform, is commonly used to post trading screenshots, summaries of opinions, and event previews, focusing on lighter content. Many South Korean KOLs improve content recognition and professionalism by using a unified cover design style and a brand visual identity system, gradually building their own brand image.


Korean Crypto YouTuber’s page

4.4 Japan

Representative KOL in Japan — LUCIAN | るしあん @lucianlampdefi

Also known as — Lucian | @lucianlampdefi

  • Dominance of anime elements: Japanese KOLs prefer to use anime-style avatars. Their background images, AMA promotional posters, and brand marketing posters typically adopt either anime or cyberpunk styles to appeal to young Japanese audiences. Influenced by Vtuber culture, some KOLs use virtual avatars instead of real-life photos for social interaction. This trend is especially prominent in the NFT space, where many Japanese KOLs use anime-style PFPs or even AI-generated characters to enhance their personal brand.
  • Content style: Japanese KOLs typically have a more refined and aesthetic content style, avoiding overly flashy marketing. Instead, they tend to attract viewers through storytelling and visuals. When promoting memecoins or blockchain games, they often use immersive, anime-style narratives. Their fan base strongly identifies with anime culture, so KOLs cater to this by using anime emojis, memes, and other related references in their content.


LUCIAN’S X PAGES

4.5 Russia

Characteristics of the Russian crypto community:

  • Heavy reliance on Telegram: The Russian Memecoin market is affected by the country’s restrictions on social media platforms, with Twitter being banned and local users unable to access the platform directly. This has led KOLs in Russia and CIS countries to turn to other social platforms (such as Telegram and Discord), creating an ecosystem distinct from global mainstream markets. Russian KOLs primarily promote tokens through Telegram groups or channels, using semi-closed community management methods. The way they disseminate information is more discreet compared to Twitter. Some communities use a subscription model, where users must pay to access VIP groups and internal information. Overall, compared to the European and American markets, Russian KOLs’ promotional methods are more low-key and decentralized.
  • Content aggregation and interaction: KOLs typically aggregate hot content from Twitter, such as cryptocurrency news, new coin listings, airdrop information, etc., and share it in Telegram channels with accompanying images and text. Community members can like, comment, and interact with the posts, forming an interactive ecosystem. Unlike KOLs on Twitter who focus on posting tweets, Russian KOLs in Telegram channels are less likely to directly promote memecoins via CA (Call to Action) but are more inclined to share market trends and investment information.
  • Influence of YouTubers: Russian KOLs may collaborate with CTO communities to produce YouTube videos for a specific token. These videos are usually priced lower, at around $300–500 per video, making them more cost-effective compared to the European and American markets. While Russian crypto users are more reliant on Telegram, the influence of YouTube videos is limited, though it remains one of the KOLs’ channels for promotion and monetization.

5. Conclusion

From the United States, South Korea, Japan, and China to Russia, the Memecoin markets in different countries and regions exhibit distinct cultural traits. Local narratives and trading logic are always key factors in determining whether a Memecoin can break through quickly and continue to pump. For project teams, understanding local community culture, communication channels, and trending narratives is essential to developing targeted marketing and community strategies when entering different regional markets.

In the future, Memecoins will no longer be mere speculative products, but digital assets that combine entertainment, cultural identity, and community consensus. JE Labs will continue to monitor global Memecoin ecosystem changes and support more projects in achieving breakout growth in both Asian and global markets.

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  2. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article represent only the author’s personal views and do not constitute any investment advice.

  3. Other language versions of the article are translated by the Gate Learn team. The translated article may not be copied, distributed or plagiarized without mentioning Gate.io.

Memecoin Global Market Landscape: Users, Narratives, and the Deconstruction of Community Culture

Intermediate4/23/2025, 5:27:02 AM
JE Labs conducts in-depth research across six major regions in the Memecoin market, uncovering the investment logic, community behaviors, and trading ecosystems shaped by diverse cultural backgrounds—empowering global strategy development for crypto projects.

1. Overview

In recent years, the Memecoin market has rapidly expanded across the globe, with distinct ecosystems emerging in the United States, China, South Korea, and Europe. In each of these markets, key opinion leaders (KOLs) play a pivotal role in shaping community engagement, market sentiment, and trading trends.

This article focuses on six major markets—United States, China, South Korea, Europe, Japan, and Russia—identifying their most representative Memecoin KOLs and analyzing their trading activity, communication methods, and community influence. By studying the characteristics of KOLs in each market, we aim to better understand the global propagation logic and trading patterns of Memecoins.

1.1 Research Objectives

Compare the development of Memecoin in different regions——Compare its trading volume, regulatory policies, KOL influence, etc.

Screen representative KOLs from various regions——Select the most influential KOLs in the Memecoin market in the United States, China, South Korea and Europe. And study the voice, communication methods and audience preferences of KOLs in different regions in the market to find out the market differences.

Summarize the characteristics of active KOLs in the community——Analyze the social media strategies, community interaction methods of these KOLs and their impact on transaction trends, thereby providing a reference for projects that want to enter the corresponding market.

1.2 Logic of selecting research area

In the global crypto market, Memecoin, as a unique crypto ecosystem, shows great regional differences due to its community-driven nature, cultural influence and market speculation. This report selectedChina, the United States, Europe, South Korea and Japan, Russia As the main analysis object, the reasons are as follows:

USA:As a global cryptocurrency exchangecore area, which has long dominated Memecoin’s liquidity and trading volume. Many well-known Memecoins (such as $DOGE, $SHIB) originated from the United States and have formed a huge ecosystem around the world.

China:havehuge investorBasic and highly active community, user enthusiasm for trading Memecoin through DeFi and CEX remains high despite regulatory restrictions. The Chinese market is highly speculative, which often drives short-term market trends and even spawns Meme tokens with local characteristics.

South Korea:always beenThe most active in the worldOne of the cryptocurrency markets, especially outstanding in short-term trading and community operations. Korean investors are prone to high-frequency trading and FOMO mentality, causing local Memecoin to often experience extreme market prices in a short period of time. In addition, South Korea’s K-Pop culture also provides rich creative sources for Memecoin narratives.

Europe:Compared with the more speculative Asian markets, European users are more inclined to cultural identity and long-term value investment. Many local Memecoins combine political satire, social movements and other elements to formunique market style。

Japan:The Memecoin market is significantly influenced by ACG (animation, comics, games) culture and the two-dimensional brand effect. The project content is mostly based on anime characters, Internet memes, and VTubers, forming a local Meme model that is different from other countries.

Russia:Affected by international sanctions and the local social environment, the Russian Memecoin market is distinctly closed and speculative. High inflation and the depreciation of the ruble have driven the demand for safe havens. Cryptocurrencies have become an alternative investment tool for speculation and hedging asset shrinkage.

2. Global Memecoin Market Overview

2.1 Memecoins vs. Traditional Crypto Projects

Though both Memecoins and traditional crypto projects (such as layer-1 blockchains, DeFi protocols, and DApps) belong to the broader cryptocurrency domain, they differ significantly in terms of core value proposition, driving forces, and how the market perceives and reacts to them.


Comparing Memecoin with traditional crypto projects

2.2 Market Characteristics by Region

The development of Memecoins across different regions is deeply influenced by local culture, regulations, and market preferences, resulting in substantial variation:


Comparison of market characteristics across regions

USA: The U.S. has a vast base of crypto investors, including both institutions and retail traders. While institutions tend to favor mainstream assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), retail investors—especially younger generations—show a strong affinity for Memecoins.

China: Despite strict government regulations leading to the shutdown of local exchanges, Chinese investors actively participate in Memecoin trading via OTC desks and offshore platforms. The appetite for high-risk, high-return assets remains strong, fueling speculative momentum and occasional local Meme narratives.

South Korea: According to South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit (KoFIU), over 6 million citizens—more than 10% of the population—participate in crypto. Centralized exchanges, particularly Upbit (with ~80% market share), dominate the trading landscape. Korean investors exhibit a preference for high-potential altcoins and accept the associated risks, contributing to the high ratio of speculative trades.

Europe: While regulatory frameworks remain relatively relaxed, European investors favor conservative investment strategies and tend to focus on blue-chip crypto assets. Memecoins are present but occupy a smaller market share. However, projects with political or cultural narratives do find resonance in certain communities.

Japan:Thanks to the influence of anime and gaming culture (ACG), Japanese users are particularly receptive to anime-themed tokens. Overall trading activity is moderate, with regulatory bodies requiring all exchanges to be licensed. Community discussions are most active on platforms like 5ch and X (formerly Twitter).

Russia: Faced with international sanctions, Russia has cultivated an active DEX and P2P trading environment. Telegram-based communities are highly speculative in nature, though their engagement tends to be short-lived. Occasionally, politically-themed Memecoins surface, reflecting socio-political narratives in the crypto space.

3. Regional Memecoin Ecosystem Analysis

3.1 United States

Top Narratives: Trump & Musk: The core of the U.S. memecoin ecosystem revolves around two influential figures—Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Traders closely monitor their social media activity, analyzing profile pictures, bios, retweets, and tweet content for potential narrative cues to fuel new memecoin hype. Even small gestures, such as a change in Musk’s avatar or a campaign statement from Trump, can spark the creation of a new meme token. For instance, Trump’s former X bio stated “45th President of America.” When he announced his re-election bid, many speculated he would change it to “45th & 47th President of America,” which led to the creation of tokens like $47 and $4547 on the Solana chain.

Secondary Narratives from Political, Economic, and Social Events: The second tier of narratives includes influential figures from politics, technology, and beyond—such as Gabe Newell (founder of Steam) and Vitalik Buterin (Ethereum co-founder). U.S. memecoins are also closely tied to events and public sentiment. For example, Trump’s promise to pardon Ross Ulbricht (founder of Silk Road) triggered a rally in $FreeRoss. When Trump claimed he would release the “Lolita Island” list, related tokens also became speculation targets. In terms of social news, Luigi’s trial hype caused the $LUIGI token to surge, making it one of the top “celebrity coins.”

Narratives of Positivity and Resilience: Many U.S.-born memecoins carry emotionally charged, universally resonant narratives. For instance, when Trump was attacked and shouted “FIGHT,” it inspired the memecoin $FIGHT—symbolizing an indomitable spirit. $FAFO (short for “Fuck Around and Find Out”) emerged as a satire of systemic inefficiency and corruption in U.S. politics. Meanwhile, $PNUT, symbolized by a squirrel, represents justice and perseverance in both religious and Western cultural contexts.

Community-Driven and Long-Term Holding: Unlike some other regions, U.S. memecoin investors tend to focus on long-term community building rather than short-term speculation. Tokens like $FAFO, rooted in Trump’s political stances, have grown robust communities with committed “diamond hand” holders. This narrative-driven consensus, sustained by strong communities, gives U.S. memecoins greater longevity and influence.

3.2 China

Mainstream Narratives Follow Western Trends, Lacking Local Identity

The Chinese memecoin market largely follows Western trends, with investors favoring narratives already popular overseas. However, cultural disconnects hinder engagement with some Western memes. For example, although $PEPE exploded in the West, its early development received minimal participation from Chinese traders due to cultural and language barriers—many simply didn’t “get the joke.” Furthermore, since crypto news flows primarily in English, Chinese retail investors often struggle to obtain timely information, resulting in delayed market entry. Most memecoins also use English names, making it difficult for local narratives to gain global traction, further limiting the development of domestic memecoin projects.

Weaker Local Ecosystem, Short-Lived Hype Cycles

While localized memecoins do exist in China, they often rely on short-term buzz and lack sustainable storytelling, leading to short lifespans. For instance, during a Spring Festival Gala comedy skit, actor Shen Teng mentioned $DogeKing—coincidentally the name of a token already listed on a CEX—prompting a brief market rally. Since then, Spring Festival-related memecoins have emerged annually as traders seek angles based on gala content. Some cultural IPs like Nezha, when released in North America, inspired tokens such as $NEZHA and $AOBING, attracting short-term attention. Early Chinese Ponzi-style token projects also had meme attributes, but due to regulatory crackdowns—like the Pangu coin being classified as a scam—they eventually vanished.

Focus on AI and Tech Themes

Chinese investors show strong interest in AI and technology-themed memecoins, often aligning with broader tech trends. Local tokens like DeepSeek or AI Goku, developed by institutions such as the University of Hong Kong, once sparked a wave of similarly named memecoins. Unlike official overseas AI platforms that often launch tokens via TGE and list on exchanges—thus adding credibility—many Chinese AI memecoins are highly speculative. Investors should exercise caution to avoid falling into short-term pump-and-dump traps.

3.3 South Korea

High-Risk Appetite

Korean society’s rigid class structure fuels a collective drive for wealth accumulation through high-risk, high-reward investments. Young investors in their 20s and 30s often favor venture capital-style opportunities, with memecoin trading among their top picks. The Korean memecoin market is fast-paced and highly volatile, driven by intense community enthusiasm, but profits must be seized in narrow windows. The trading style leans toward short-term speculation rather than long-term value.

Strong Ties to Pop Culture

Korean traders often blend K-pop, drama, and internet meme culture to fuel memecoin trends. Earlier this year, the film Crypto Man, loosely based on the LUNA crash, featured a fictional token called $MOMMY. This inspired real-life trading hype, pushing $MOMMY’s market cap to $5 million at its peak. Another instance involved rumors that Squid Game Season 2 would feature a crypto token, prompting a memecoin frenzy. Such narratives usually rely on information asymmetry and short-lived “get-rich-quick” effects, but often collapse quickly—leaving latecomers holding the bag.

Extreme Volatility and High Turnover

Due to Korea’s speculative style, memecoin turnover is significantly higher than in the West. Rapid capital movement causes extreme price fluctuations. Trading volume is highly correlated with social media activity, especially on Telegram, Twitter, Naver Café, and KakaoTalk, where users constantly share strategies and market sentiment. If a meme topic goes viral, its token’s volume can spike within hours. Conversely, once attention fades, volume vanishes and the project sinks into obscurity..

3.4 Europe

Narratives Driven by Social Issues and Political Satire

European memecoin culture often incorporates elements of political humor and social commentary. Projects tend to embed irony and critical reflections on political figures, ideologies, or economic conditions. For instance, during the European energy crisis, tokens like $GAS and $OIL became hot topics on-chain, with narratives poking fun at policy mishandling or energy dependency. Similarly, tokens like $MERKEL or $MACRON once sparked short-lived rallies during key EU summits. While such coins are often short-lived, they demonstrate Europeans’ unique preference for meme narratives with political depth and sarcastic undertones.

Fragmented Language and Market Differences

Unlike more unified markets like the U.S. or South Korea, the European memecoin ecosystem is fragmented due to language diversity and cultural nuance. A meme that resonates in France might not translate well in Germany or Spain. This leads to local communities preferring their own small-scale memecoin projects, but rarely achieving cross-border virality. European traders often participate in international memes (like $PEPE or $DOGE), but local memecoins tend to stay confined within national boundaries.

Growing Influence of Artists and Visual Design

European memecoins often prioritize aesthetics, visual quality, and cultural expression. A growing number of European NFT artists and indie designers are participating in memecoin branding, contributing original artwork and lore. For example, memecoins on chains like Arbitrum and Base that feature hand-drawn avatars or vintage aesthetics tend to attract more European attention. The narrative is not just about humor or hype, but about creating an expressive, even subversive identity. This artistic infusion gives European meme culture a distinct flavor—less about pure speculation and more about storytelling and visual resonance.

3.5 Japan

Otaku Culture and Niche Symbolism

Japanese memecoins are deeply intertwined with otaku culture—anime, gaming, idols, and internet folklore are all common inspirations. For example, the token $SAKURA, symbolizing cherry blossoms, is tied to both seasonal imagery and traditional aesthetics. Another example, $NEET (referring to “Not in Education, Employment, or Training”), reflects a specific internet subculture in Japan, resonating with local users through its self-deprecating and community-driven style.

Strong Emphasis on Aesthetics and Emotional Identity

Many Japanese memecoins emphasize visual style and emotional resonance. Memes are carefully designed to evoke feelings like nostalgia, cuteness (kawaii), or philosophical detachment. Tokens like $SHINZO (meaning “heart”) or $YUME (meaning “dream”) use poetic naming and soft-color palettes, attracting users seeking emotional or spiritual connection, rather than just profit. This stands in stark contrast to the more aggressive, irony-driven memes of the West.

Community Culture of Collecting and Holding

Japanese communities tend to value collection and long-term ownership. Instead of chasing rapid gains, many investors treat memecoins as digital collectibles, similar to rare trading cards or gacha items. Forums like 5ch and platforms like LINE play a central role in sharing coin lore and organizing holders. Projects that tap into nostalgic IPs, such as old anime series or retro gaming references, often gather dedicated communities willing to hold regardless of price volatility.

Barriers to International Influence

Despite a rich cultural base, Japanese memecoins rarely break into the global market. Language barriers and region-specific humor make international traction difficult. Moreover, Japan’s stricter financial regulations around crypto limit listings and exposure. While a few tokens like $INU-based themes have achieved modest overseas visibility, most Japanese meme tokens remain domestically focused, thriving in tight-knit, culturally specific circles.

3.6 Southeast Asia

A Fusion of Trends, Humor, and Community

Southeast Asia’s memecoin market reflects a blend of Western meme culture and local creativity. With high internet penetration, widespread use of mobile apps, and vibrant online communities, countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia have developed grassroots meme ecosystems. These often mix Western internet humor (like rage faces or Wojak) with local slang, politics, or pop culture references. For example, $NASI (referring to rice in Bahasa) or $TRABAJO (meaning “work” in Tagalog) emerge as tokens that parody daily life, labor issues, or food culture, connecting with everyday emotional realities.

KOL-Driven Ecosystem and Telegram Virality

Influencers (KOLs) play a central role in Southeast Asia’s memecoin scene. From Twitter to Telegram and TikTok, local KOLs often launch or promote meme tokens directly, sometimes in tight coordination with developer teams. Their reach and credibility drive rapid retail participation. Popular Telegram groups often turn into memecoin launchpads, where narratives form and circulate within hours. While some of these tokens are pump-and-dump in nature, others manage to build small, persistent communities.

Language Hybridization and Meme Accessibility

Memes in Southeast Asia often feature a hybrid of English and local languages (Taglish, Singlish, etc.), enhancing accessibility and relatability. This allows memecoins to reach both domestic and regional audiences, sometimes even attracting international meme hunters due to the exotic appeal. Memes are often highly visual—GIFs, sticker packs, and emoji chains are common in group chats and marketing.

Religious and Cultural Sensitivities

Compared to Western meme cultures, Southeast Asia’s meme communities tend to avoid explicit content or overly dark humor, given the region’s stronger religious and family values. Memecoins that stay respectful while still being fun, such as those themed around animals, street food, or everyday frustrations, are more likely to go viral. Projects that cross certain cultural lines (e.g., mocking religion or political authority) can quickly backfire, losing community support.

Emerging Bridges with GameFi and Community DAOs

Some Southeast Asian memecoins are evolving beyond pure speculation, bridging into GameFi or DAO-like structures. For instance, $DURIAN (based on the infamous fruit) launched a community-governed game prototype, while $SATE (an Indonesian food meme) integrated with a staking DApp. These projects showcase an emerging trend—memecoins acting as a gateway to deeper crypto participation among retail users. This hybridization of culture, community, and utility is giving the region’s meme market unique developmental potential.

4. Summary of Memecoin KOL Characteristics by Region

4.1 United States and Europe

Representative KOL in the West — Murad @MustStopMurad

Murad’s Insights on Memecoins:

Memecoins have long been dismissed as low-value “shitcoins” due to their lack of technical backing and real-world applications, often driven instead by market sentiment and community consensus. However, Murad assigns deeper meaning to the memecoin narrative. He believes a good memecoin serves functions such as fun, reducing loneliness, creating identity and emotional resonance, instilling a sense of mission and meaning, and ultimately bringing entertainment and happiness.


Murad’s insights on Memecoin

Murad’s Criteria for Selecting Memecoins:

Market capitalization range:Focus on mid-cap coins with market caps between $5 million and $200 million.

Murad’s Criteria for Selecting Memecoins:

  • Market Cap Range: Focuses on mid-cap tokens with a market cap between $5 million and $200 million.
  • Preferred Chains: Favors projects on Solana and Ethereum; excludes chains like Base, Ton, and Sui.
  • Project Longevity: Chooses tokens that have been in existence for at least six months and have experienced at least two 70% drawdowns.

Murad’s Recent Investment Performance:

About four months ago, Murad bought 10.25 million $SPX tokens for around $98,000. The value has since surged to approximately $7.89 million, yielding a 7,900% return. However, his crypto portfolio recently dropped by around 45% in two weeks, incurring a net loss of about $11.1 million, mainly due to $SPX dropping from $0.72 to $0.40.

Characteristics of Western Memecoin KOLs:

  • Avatar and Identity: Avatars often feature strong visual symbols—Pepe, BAYC, Milady NFTs, or pixel art like CryptoPunks—signifying deep involvement in the meme sector, early crypto participation, and notable industry influence. Bios typically include keywords like: meme, memecoin, gem, gem hunter/finder, 100X, degen, altcoin, alpha, signaling speculative intent and meme alignment.
  • Content Strategy:
  • Sustained Promotion: KOLs often focus on one memecoin over 1–2 weeks rather than shilling multiple new tokens daily.
  • Multi-Angle Marketing: Beyond simple “buy” signals, they weave narratives around market sentiment, KOL moves, and news. If a memecoin is linked to Elon Musk or Trump, they amplify those associations to fuel FOMO.
  • Emotional Manipulation: When a memecoin rallies, they hint at further upside; during pullbacks, they pivot to “long-term hold” or “community belief” rhetoric to maintain investor morale.
  • Tweet Engagement:
  • Highly interactive, often posting open-ended questions like “What is the next 100x Memecoin?” with tags like #memecoin #100x #crypto. This encourages engagement and crowd-sourced tips, helping them gauge hot tokens while boosting algorithmic reach.
  • Community Management:
  • Run semi-closed Telegram/Discord groups where the flow of information is centralized and moderated.
  1. Scheduled Updates: Daily posts on memecoin news, trends, and insights.
  2. Silent Mode: General members often can’t chat freely; they express support via likes or retweets.
  3. Internal FOMO Creation: KOLs share “buy wall” reports, celebrity interest, or upcoming exchange listings to drive conversions.
  • Overall, Western KOLs adopt a more brand-oriented, long-term growth model rather than pure hype cycles.

4.2 China

Representative KOL in China — 0xWizard @0xcryptowizard

0xWizard’s View on the Memecoin Narrative:

0xWizard believes that the fusion of AI and memecoins represents the next wave in crypto. He argues that memecoins aren’t just about hype—they embody community resonance, emotional connection, and a shared sense of purpose. He views projects like $ACT, $GOAT, and $BMT as part of an “AI Renaissance,” where AI evolves from a mere assistant into a free-spirited, autonomous being.

0xWizard’s Memecoin Selection Criteria:

  1. Decentralized Token Distribution: Avoids highly controlled projects dominated by whales or core teams.
  2. New Narratives & Sectors: Prefers memecoins that feature innovative storytelling and market relevance (e.g., $ACT blending AI and meme culture).
  3. Community Engagement: Values projects with highly active and sticky communities built on strong consensus.
  4. Small Cap, High Potential: Looks for low-cap tokens with big upside potential in early stages.
  5. Timeliness: Prioritizes trending, controversial, or breakout tokens. For example, $ACT fits both meme and AI hype cycles.

Influence of 0xWizard:

Wizard’s pinned tweet is a memecoin tutorial, helping onboard beginners and broadening his reach. Unlike typical high-frequency shillers, he shares in-depth industry insights, attracting both meme investors and Web3 professionals. After successfully launching $ACT and $GOAT, his reputation skyrocketed. His early-stage entry, community marketing, and accurate calls helped get both tokens listed on exchanges. These wins boosted his credibility and solidified his brand. In the Chinese crypto scene, Wizard stands out for blending sharp market calls with strong community branding.

Characteristics of Chinese Memecoin KOLs:

  • Business Model:

Many Chinese KOLs partner with trading bots (e.g., GMGN, PEPE, UniversalX, PinkPig) or CEXs (Binance, Bybit, OKX) to earn commissions through referrals.

Their strategy is more revenue- and growth-driven, with a focus on short-term returns via airdrops, trading incentives, and user acquisition.

  • Content Strategy:

Highly traffic-driven, aiming to capture fast-moving trends instead of long-term project support.

Frequently post contract addresses (CAs) of multiple tokens, optimizing for Twitter’s algorithm.

Use tags like #Token or $Token to enter trending traffic pools and rapidly gain followers.

  • Community Management:

Telegram and WeChat groups are highly active. Unlike Western “silent” groups, Chinese groups encourage open discussion.

Chats cover trades, gossip, fund flows, and daily life, fostering emotional stickiness.

The structure is often pyramid-like:

  1. Core Admins: KOLs or assistants who post key updates.
  2. Active Contributors: Alpha hunters, degen traders, and “bag-shillers.”
  3. General Members: Mostly lurkers and copy traders who follow trends passively.

4.3 South Korea

Summary of KOL Characteristics in South Korea

Small population base, widespread distribution of KOL content: Due to South Korea’s relatively small population base, KOLs in the cryptocurrency space have not formed clear niche divisions like those in Europe, the United States, or China. Most KOLs have a broad content coverage, typically posting a combination of airdrops, industry news, BTC market trends, secondary market research, on-chain hot topics, and macroeconomic assessments on a single account. This “casting a wide net” content strategy attracts audiences of varying levels and reflects the relatively concentrated yet diverse demand within the South Korean market.

Lack of niche KOLs focusing on Memecoins: Unlike in Europe, the United States, or the Chinese-speaking world, South Korea has not yet seen the rise of leading KOLs specializing in the Memecoin space. While some KOLs may mention Memecoin-related projects, they do not delve into them in-depth, follow them long-term, or establish dedicated Memecoin communities.

Multi-platform operations — Telegram, YouTube, Instagram: South Korean KOLs are not limited to a single platform but enhance their exposure and influence through multi-platform content management. For instance, on YouTube, KOLs mainly post market analysis videos, often featuring candlestick charts and strong visual elements, which are highly click-inducing. Instagram, as a supplementary platform, is commonly used to post trading screenshots, summaries of opinions, and event previews, focusing on lighter content. Many South Korean KOLs improve content recognition and professionalism by using a unified cover design style and a brand visual identity system, gradually building their own brand image.


Korean Crypto YouTuber’s page

4.4 Japan

Representative KOL in Japan — LUCIAN | るしあん @lucianlampdefi

Also known as — Lucian | @lucianlampdefi

  • Dominance of anime elements: Japanese KOLs prefer to use anime-style avatars. Their background images, AMA promotional posters, and brand marketing posters typically adopt either anime or cyberpunk styles to appeal to young Japanese audiences. Influenced by Vtuber culture, some KOLs use virtual avatars instead of real-life photos for social interaction. This trend is especially prominent in the NFT space, where many Japanese KOLs use anime-style PFPs or even AI-generated characters to enhance their personal brand.
  • Content style: Japanese KOLs typically have a more refined and aesthetic content style, avoiding overly flashy marketing. Instead, they tend to attract viewers through storytelling and visuals. When promoting memecoins or blockchain games, they often use immersive, anime-style narratives. Their fan base strongly identifies with anime culture, so KOLs cater to this by using anime emojis, memes, and other related references in their content.


LUCIAN’S X PAGES

4.5 Russia

Characteristics of the Russian crypto community:

  • Heavy reliance on Telegram: The Russian Memecoin market is affected by the country’s restrictions on social media platforms, with Twitter being banned and local users unable to access the platform directly. This has led KOLs in Russia and CIS countries to turn to other social platforms (such as Telegram and Discord), creating an ecosystem distinct from global mainstream markets. Russian KOLs primarily promote tokens through Telegram groups or channels, using semi-closed community management methods. The way they disseminate information is more discreet compared to Twitter. Some communities use a subscription model, where users must pay to access VIP groups and internal information. Overall, compared to the European and American markets, Russian KOLs’ promotional methods are more low-key and decentralized.
  • Content aggregation and interaction: KOLs typically aggregate hot content from Twitter, such as cryptocurrency news, new coin listings, airdrop information, etc., and share it in Telegram channels with accompanying images and text. Community members can like, comment, and interact with the posts, forming an interactive ecosystem. Unlike KOLs on Twitter who focus on posting tweets, Russian KOLs in Telegram channels are less likely to directly promote memecoins via CA (Call to Action) but are more inclined to share market trends and investment information.
  • Influence of YouTubers: Russian KOLs may collaborate with CTO communities to produce YouTube videos for a specific token. These videos are usually priced lower, at around $300–500 per video, making them more cost-effective compared to the European and American markets. While Russian crypto users are more reliant on Telegram, the influence of YouTube videos is limited, though it remains one of the KOLs’ channels for promotion and monetization.

5. Conclusion

From the United States, South Korea, Japan, and China to Russia, the Memecoin markets in different countries and regions exhibit distinct cultural traits. Local narratives and trading logic are always key factors in determining whether a Memecoin can break through quickly and continue to pump. For project teams, understanding local community culture, communication channels, and trending narratives is essential to developing targeted marketing and community strategies when entering different regional markets.

In the future, Memecoins will no longer be mere speculative products, but digital assets that combine entertainment, cultural identity, and community consensus. JE Labs will continue to monitor global Memecoin ecosystem changes and support more projects in achieving breakout growth in both Asian and global markets.

Disclaimer:

  1. This article is reprinted from [X]. The copyright belongs to the original author [@JELabs2024]. If you have any objections to the reprint, please contact Gate Learn team, the team will handle it as soon as possible according to relevant procedures.

  2. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article represent only the author’s personal views and do not constitute any investment advice.

  3. Other language versions of the article are translated by the Gate Learn team. The translated article may not be copied, distributed or plagiarized without mentioning Gate.io.

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