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What are the underlying factors driving their popularity? How do memecoins differ from traditional cryptocurrencies?
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Imho it's pretty simple. BTC used to be middle finger for banks and traditional finance. It was an example of counterculture building something new, that old farts wouldn't understand.
Memecoins are this without even trying to mask themselves as a some kind of better solution. They are very image of something your that kids knew and parent's didn't get, so in their own way, they are a way to rebel and be an inside joke that old suits don't get.
The fact that they just keep existing and having value must be so confusing to outsiders. especially old and traditional investors, and what's a better middle finger from countrer culture than an inside joke that traditional investors don't ever going to get. It keeps being used and is gaining value against all expectations. When they finally get what memecoins are and are going in, current holders already see it as ancient trend and something even more confusing will take memecoin's place.