#288: Why Memecoins are Having Their Spotlight Moment by Kairon

Kairon argues that memecoins are drawing attention now because of a combination of new infrastructure, not because the concept is new. He points to Degen, which he says became the first real memecoin thanks to cheap, easy access: users can tip people on social media without gas fees, play giveaways, and mint NFTs without leaving the Farcaster feed, aided by frames. He contrasts this with Dogecoin, which he says offered little beyond buying it, and PEPE, which he says is too expensive to use given fees such as a $100 gas fee. He adds that Degen launched on the Optimism stack via Farcaster and Base, and has spawned many similar "scenecoins" and "chaincoins."