Types of Memecoins: Animal, Celebrity, Political, Culture and Joke Coins
Memecoins fall into a few recognisable groups: animal coins (Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, dogwifhat, Pepe), celebrity and political coins (TRUMP, LIBRA, HAWK), pure-joke coins (Fartcoin) and launchpad tokens (PUMP). Each type has a different source of attention and a different main risk.
Not all memecoins are the same kind of bet. Knowing which category a coin belongs to tells you what drives its attention and what can go wrong. Here is a field guide with real examples.
The categories at a glance
| Type | Examples | Attention comes from | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal and character coins | Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, dogwifhat, Pepe, Bonk | An existing, shareable meme | Copycats and a fading meme |
| Celebrity and political coins | TRUMP, LIBRA, $HAWK, $CAR | A famous name | Insider supply and sudden reversals |
| Pure-joke coins | Fartcoin | The joke itself | No holding reason beyond hype |
| Launchpad and platform tokens | PUMP | A platform's business | Token value depends on one platform's volume |
| Community and ecosystem coins | Coins of a chain's own culture | A chain's community | The chain's activity cools |
1. Animal and character coins
The oldest and largest group. Dogecoin used the Doge meme, Shiba Inu named itself after the same breed, dogwifhat used a photo of a dog in a knitted hat, and Pepe used a frog meme. Their strength is that the meme is already known, so nobody has to learn anything. The weakness is that every popular meme gets dozens of copies, and only one of them has the community. See Dogecoin, PEPE and Bonk and dogwifhat.
2. Celebrity and political coins
A famous person's name or an official's post gives instant reach. In 2025 the TRUMP coin launched with a reported market value above $27 billion in under a day, and LIBRA fell more than 90% after insider sales. Hawk Tuah's coin peaked at about $490 million and fell to about $25 million. The risks are concentrated insider supply and the chance that the person disowns the project, which happened with LIBRA. See the full account.
3. Pure-joke coins
Fartcoin briefly passed a $2 billion valuation in December 2024, according to Wikipedia. These coins have no story beyond the joke. They can go up when the joke spreads, and go down when it stops being funny, which is a short cycle. They are the clearest case of a pure attention trade.
4. Launchpad and platform tokens
PUMP, the token of the Pump.fun launchpad, is a different kind of memecoin: its story is a business. It raised about $600 million in a 12-minute public sale on July 12, 2025 and ranked fourth among memecoins by September 2026. Its value links to how much trading the platform sees. See Pump.fun explained.
5. Community and ecosystem coins
Each chain grows its own culture. On Elysium, launchpads such as Ascend, Boxa, Kleos and ElysPump host coins that reflect the community there. See launchpads compared and the ecosystem overview. These coins ride on the chain's overall activity, which can rise and fall as a group.
Fake and impersonation coins: not a category, a danger
Every popular category attracts copies. In February 2025, more than 700 copycat and spam coins were sent to a famous wallet to suggest an endorsement, and hijacked verified accounts promoted fake coins named after countries. Always check the contract address. See fake and copycat coins.
Which category suits which trader
- Animal coins with history: better liquidity, fewer surprises, slower moves.
- Celebrity coins: fast and news-driven, with high insider risk. Keep very small.
- Joke coins: short trades, tight exits.
- Platform tokens: follow the platform's activity numbers, not the meme.
Whatever the type, run the same checks. See the pre-buy checklist, and remember most memecoins fade.
Sources
Numbers and dates were checked on November 11, 2026 and can change. Nothing here is financial advice.
FAQ
What are the main types of memecoins?
Animal and character coins, celebrity and political coins, pure-joke coins, launchpad or platform tokens, and community or ecosystem coins.
Which type of memecoin is riskiest?
Celebrity and political coins often carry concentrated insider supply and can reverse suddenly, as the reported TRUMP, LIBRA and HAWK cases show.
Is Fartcoin a real memecoin?
Yes. It briefly passed a $2 billion valuation in December 2024, according to Wikipedia, and has no purpose beyond the joke.
Does the category change which checks I should run?
The core checks are the same: contract address, liquidity, holders and creator behaviour. The category tells you where the main risk is likely to be.
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