Why Memecoins May Never Return to Their All-Time Highs

• Memecoins lose momentum as Franklin Templeton analysts say speculation has faded sharply.
• Pump.fun data shows most memecoins died within days, with few surviving beyond 90 days.
• Analysts warn KOL-linked tokens and controlled supply are hurting wider memecoin trust.

Memecoins are facing renewed doubts after Paul and David of Franklin Templeton Digital Assets said the sector has lost much of its speculative momentum. Market data showed weak survival rates across new launches. Commentary from crypto analysts also pointed to fading culture in the sector.

In a YouTube video titled “Are Memecoins Dead?”, Paul and David said the memecoin era may be behind the market. They said many tokens that surged in 2024 and 2025 are unlikely to return to their all-time highs.

Memecoins Lose Momentum as Speculation Fades

Paul said memecoins traded because speculation had limited places to go. Traders entered crypto ecosystems where few projects offered clear fundamentals. That left room for DeFi tokens, lending assets, and memes to compete for attention.

David said the absence of a fundamental filter removed the usual ceiling from meme tokens. At the time, the trade felt new, simple, and entertaining. The market was filled with dog memes, cat memes, and fast-moving online communities. 

Paul and David said the setup changed after Bitcoin topped and speculation was washed out. Traders now appear more focused on revenue, activity, and assets with clearer value. That shift leaves memecoins in a weaker position. 

In an X post, analyst Wenaltseason described Pump.fun as slowly becoming a memecoin graveyard.

The analyst said 12.8 million of 18.6 million tokens died on launch day, equal to about 69% of listed memecoins. The data also showed that 80.37% were dead within 48 hours, while only 4.55% survived beyond 90 days.

Source: X

Memecoin Culture Faces Insider Token Backlash

However, in an X post, analyst Alexi said most memecoins are likely to go to zero eventually. The analyst said creator backing, celebrity links, or viral branding do not stop a token from collapsing. 

He said that “The chart dies, the memes fade, the community disappears.”Still, Alexi said short-term trades may remain possible. He said traders could profit if they understand why people buy, when they enter, and what captures attention.

However, analyst MASTR said memecoin culture is dead because many new tokens are no longer real memes. According to analyst, the market has shifted toward tokens named after key opinion leaders.

The analyst said these assets are pushed by connected groups and sold as culture. MASTR criticized controlled supply, insider games, fake communities, and retail traders being used as exit liquidity. The post said KOL-linked tokens do not represent culture.

The analyst also questioned large wallet concentrations. MASTR claims that one wallet holding 65% of supply is bullish should be tested by asking why the holder does not burn it.

Political crypto activity added another layer to the criticism. Bloomberg reported that Donald Trump disclosed at least $1.2 billion in 2025 earnings from crypto and memecoin-related businesses.

Analyst Simon Dedic said Trump made 10 figures from TRUMP, NFTs, WLFI sales, and USD1. He said the memecoin and NFT activity had faded.

Dedic argued that such high-profile activity could weaken trust in crypto. He said smaller scammers may feel encouraged if powerful figures profit openly from similar models.

However,weak launch survival, fading culture, concentrated supply, and insider-linked tokens have damaged confidence. The market now appears less willing to reward assets that depend only on attention.

Related: Why Bitcoin Usually Rises in July and What Traders Should Expect This Time?