On 29 December 2023, Emin Gün Sirer, a notable figure in the cryptocurrency space, shared a series of posts on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), discussing his perspective on meme coins, their cultural significance, and their place in the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem.

Emin Gün Sirer is the CEO and Co-Founder of Ava Labs. Ava Labs is the company behind the Avalanche blockchain, a platform known for its high throughput, scalability, and low transaction times. In his role at Ava Labs, Sirer leads the development and strategic direction of the Avalanche ecosystem, focusing on fostering innovation and adoption of blockchain technology in various sectors, including finance, enterprise applications, and decentralized systems.

Meme coins are a type of cryptocurrency that originated from internet memes or have a humorous or whimsical concept at their core. The most famous example is Dogecoin, which started as a joke based on a popular meme featuring a Shiba Inu dog. Unlike traditional cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum, which were created with specific technological or financial objectives, meme coins often lack a distinct purpose or utility and are driven primarily by community support and social media hype. Their value can be highly volatile, influenced largely by trends and celebrity endorsements. Despite their playful nature, some meme coins have gained significant attention and market capitalization in the crypto world.

Here’s a breakdown of Sirer’s main points:

  • Cultural Comparison: Sirer starts by comparing the skepticism towards meme coins to historical skepticism of other cultural phenomena. He likens those dismissing meme coins to people who criticized pop music in the 60s, labeled Banksy as a vandal in the 80s, and disparaged rap in the 90s. This analogy suggests that, like these now widely accepted cultural elements, meme coins may also gain legitimacy over time.
  • Avalanche’s Institutional Activity: He mentions the significant institutional activity on Avalanche, a blockchain platform, indicating its solid performance and delivery compared to other cryptocurrencies that keep pivoting without fulfilling their promises. He applauds the Avalanche Foundation (AF) for recognizing their advanced position in institutional adoption, allowing them to explore other areas, presumably including meme coins.
  • Personal Journey with Meme Coins: Sirer admits that he initially struggled to see the value in meme coins and was not pleased with Elon Musk’s promotion of Dogecoin. However, he eventually recognized the cultural importance of these coins as social signaling mechanisms, similar to high-end NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens).
  • Comparison with Luxury Brands: Sirer draws a parallel between meme coins and luxury brands like Balenciaga. He notes that while Balenciaga clothing doesn’t necessarily offer more warmth than other brands, it doesn’t hold back the clothing industry; rather, it serves a specific audience. This analogy suggests that meme coins, like luxury brands, have their unique place and audience in the market.
  • Caution about Memecoins: Finally, Sirer advises caution when dealing with memecoins due to their high volatility, even in the already volatile cryptocurrency space. He reminisces about directing students toward Dogecoin in 2015 because it was fun, inexpensive, and easy to experiment with. He concludes by noting that the value of meme coins lies in their fun aspect.

Sirer’s thread on X was in response to a post on X earlier that day in which the Avalanche Foundation announced its intention to incorporate meme coins into its Culture Catalyst initiative. This strategy aims to bolster creativity and foster innovation in the blockchain domain, with a special focus on the distinctive cultural contributions of meme coins.

Avalanche Foundation’s View on Meme Coins: The foundation perceives meme coins as more than mere utility tokens. These coins, often rooted in internet culture and humor, are seen as embodying the communal ethos and shared interests of the cryptocurrency community. The foundation’s plan to curate a selection of meme coins based on the Avalanche platform is a step towards engaging more deeply with the varied facets of their ecosystem.

Selection Criteria for Meme Coins: The foundation has set specific criteria for choosing meme coins for their collection. These include factors like the number of holders, liquidity levels, project development stage, adherence to fair launch principles, and general public sentiment. The foundation believes these standards will help in curating a significant and influential collection of meme coins.

Embracing Cultural Diversity at Avalanche Foundation: The foundation has expressed its commitment to supporting a wide range of culturally relevant projects within the blockchain arena. By adding meme coins to the Culture Catalyst program, the Avalanche Foundation is positioning itself as a flexible and inclusive entity in the dynamic Web3 environment.