Last March, a TikTok sound featuring a pixelated hawk and the caption “Hold the line, brothers” spread rapidly, leading the TikTok meme coin sector to explode. In only 48 hours, traders had minted a token called HAWK, and its market cap soared from a few thousand dollars to over $50 million.
While its market cap crashed only days later, going down by over 70%, the event proved that it is possible for a project to blow up with no whitepaper, roadmap, or anything other than the meme and momentum. This realization turned the incident from an isolated fluke into a pattern that was permanently adopted into the 2025 crypto landscape.
The attention became everything, and viral sounds, amusing edits, and ironic hashtags flooded the meme coin TikTok sector, allowing projects to raise money faster through hype than VC support. Influencers quickly adopted the approach, realizing that the more people laugh, remix, and share, the higher the prices climb.
As a result, TikTok became the biggest price-pumping engine for speculative assets, practically overnight.
How TikTok Became the New Crypto Exchange
As many are likely aware, TikTok was not designed to be a crypto platform. In fact, it was not designed to have anything to do with cryptocurrencies at all, but its algorithm proved to be perfect for the crypto community’s needs, resulting in it becoming one.
Once they open the app, users land on the For You Page (FYP), which is essentially a way to amplify user interests. As the user interacts with the videos through likes, rewatches, comments, and the like, the algorithm gets an understanding of their interests, and continues to supply similar videos.
In other words, if a user likes a single clip related to crypto, they will start seeing more of them, and if they continue to approve of them through interactions, they will make up the majority of the FYP content before long.
There is also the hashtag system, where hashtags like #memecoin, #cryptotok, and alike are being used as keywords to allow the platform and users to easily find the desired content. These hashtags are now seeing billions of views per month, suggesting that crypto TikTok became the front line of speculation in 2025.
Thanks to TikTok’s mechanics in combination with Gen Z investor behavior, meme coins now don’t need massive marketing teams - just a single viral video is enough to trigger FOMO. This is an example of how Gen Z investing has shifted the landscape, as traders and investors of this generation do not read whitepapers, but “buy by video,” which became a massive new trend.
The Anatomy of a Viral Meme Coin
The big question is: how does a video become viral on TikTok? What is it that differentiates a hit from a flop?
Most viral TikTok meme coin videos follow the same recipe: fast speed of reaction, simplicity in branding, storytelling, influencer amplification, and emotional shareability, meaning the addition of humor, irony, cuteness, and similar elements that will stick with the viewer.
- Speed of reaction: When a meme starts trending, the first developer to mint a token tied ot it typically wins the liquidity race. HAWK is a great example of this, as it exploded because its creator launched within hours of the original TikTok going viral. There were many who tried to follow in their footsteps, but these clones, even though they were only a day late, missed out on the hype, as buyers moved on.
- Simplicity of branding & storytelling: Today’s meme coin market does not react well to complexity. This can be seen from what projects blew up throughout the year. Think CHILLGUY, Omochi Frog, BORED, and the like. They were all built on single, recognizable ideas, a funny face, or a catchphrase, rather than complex utility or deeper philosophy.
- Influencer amplification: One thing that did not change over the years is the impact of influencers. If you can find a popular and highly watched video maker and make a deal with them to promote your meme coin, one mention from them - even if they are only a mid-tier crypto creator or meme page - can turn a starting project into a movement. Influencers can easily use TikTok’s duet and stitch features to repackage a meme coin as an inside joke or a viral moment and pass it on to thousands, if not millions, of their own fans, which provides the much-needed exposure.
- Emotional shareability: Lastly, humor and irony work faster and better than logic and sense. There is a reason why memes are the top content on the internet, and why tokens like CHILLGUY went viral. It represented the anti-hustle vibe, promoting a chill approach rather than the usual trader panic. Omochi Frog, on the other hand, won over investors through cuteness and absurdity, giving users something to share.
How Do You Know Which Meme Coins Could Explode Next?
The projects that explode tend to share the same early signs, such as the rapid spreading of their hashtag, relatable storytelling, and quick adoption by influencers and trend-setters. Follow smaller creators who are testing memes before they become major trends to spot them early on.
5 Phases of Pumping with TikTok
A TikTok-driven pump can be broken down to five steps, or phases, which are quite predictable and easy to spot once you see them enough times and learn to recognize the patterns. While the details may change with time, this is a pattern based on psychology, and as such, it has been a part of human culture for a long time. Here is what it includes.
1. Trend ignition
The pattern starts with something that will ignite the trend. This could be a viral sound, a new filter, or a rising new meme format. Someone might joke and say that it deserves a token, and that is where things start to escalate, as #memecoin and #cryptotok tags will start blowing up within hours, accompanied by parodies, edits, and speculation.
- Red flag: If multiple coins with the same meme name start to appear, it is already too late, and early buyers are likely already exiting.
- Opportunity: A good way to spot early engagement if you manage to spot the meme before the first coin is created.
2. Token birth
Token birth happens when one of the first people to spot the opportunity moves quickly and starts minting the coin and launching it on popular DEXes. The branding must mirror the meme to make it easy to find, with the logo and description designed to be instantly recognizable to TikTok users.
- Red flag: Projects with anonymous developers, unlocked liquidity, and token supply that is controlled by a single wallet are a sign of a pump-and-dump scheme.
- Opportunity: Projects that have liquidity lock and transparent deployer wallet suggest that the developer is not trying to rug-pull.
3. Influencer echo
At this stage, mid-tier Twitter and TikTok creators start mentioning the meme and the coin, turning it into a movement fueled by stitches and reaction videos. This is also when most retail investors start buying the token.
- Red flag: Influencers have their own language, and when they start using phrases like “next Dogecoin,” or “guaranteed 100%,” and the like, the movement is no longer organic - it has become marketing.
- Opportunity: Tools like LunarCrush or TweetScout can track rising mentions and reveal new trends before they reach peak attention.
4. Exchange listing
Soon enough, small exchanges will start listing the coin to benefit from the attention it is receiving. Price starts getting volatile as casual traders move in through CEXes, and volume spikes up. This is usually when the coins hit their ATH.
- Red flag: If major exchanges list it after the hype reaches its peak on TikTok and the trends start dying out, then the project is nothing more than a trap for newcomers. Insiders have already left the building.
- Opportunity: Fast-moving traders take profit in tranches. This is when liquidity is the highest.
5. Post-viral hangover
Finally, as the trend approaches the end of its life, the attention fades, the hashtags die down, and the price drops anywhere between 60% and 90%. The meme coin community either disperses or reforms around another meme coin. A few developers try to turn their project into something real, but most meme coins that start out like this are simply left behind to disappear into the depths of the industry.
- Red flag: Vanishing developers, social mentions dropping to zero, Telegram closing - all signs that it is over with this trend and coin.
- Opportunity: Monitor post-crash survivors, as projects that manage to keep a community may evolve into utility tokens.
Case Studies: The Rise and Fall of Viral Tokens
While all viral meme coin TikTok stories follow the same pattern, they don’t all have the same story - especially when it comes to their ending. Some manage to skyrocket thanks to the algorithm and the pattern, and end up reaching the moon, while others burn out in only a few hours. There are many examples from 2025 that show how timing, attention, and luck can make or break a project and lead ot millions made or lost.
$HAWK
HAWK launched in early 2025 after the mentioned TikTok clip of a hawk snatching a drone went viral under the sound “Don’t mess with nature.” In only 48 hours, the hashtag #hawkcoin flooded the platform, reaching 22 million views, and as the token emerged, its market cap went from $80,000 to $53 million.
Its biggest advantage was timing, as it was minted within 6 hours of the moment the clip started trending. But, it failed just as quickly, crashing as copies started to emerge, and going down 72% over the following weekend. This example shows the impact of speed, but it also warns that a project is doomed to fail without a community.
$CHILLGUY
CHILLGUY’s story started in late 2024, as the internet and the meme coin sector were going through burnout fatigue, and the meme captivated the attention by promoting a chill, unbothered attitude. It was represented by a slouched cartoon character with a caption, “Doing nothing, getting rich.”
By the end of the week, TikTok videos using the CHILLGUY tag hit 38 million views, while trading volume skyrocketed to $120 million.
However, despite difficulties, the project did not see the same end as HAWK would several months later, because it started out with a community and brand built around the mood, not the meme, signaling that emotional reliability was what drew investors in, while the meme simply helped spread the word.
Dawgz AI
Dawgz AI emerged with the line between utility and joke being rather blurry. It started out as a parody of AI-generated dog images, but it soon evolved into a new platform that allowed users to mint AI Dawgz avatars, and at its height, it reached 40 million views on TikTok. Its market cap followed, going from half a million to over $47 million over a ten-day period.
The project also saw its second wind when influencers started promoting it as the first meme coin with actual AI integration, but eventually, its price dropped 60%. However, it managed to form a community around its NFT generating, and it stayed active thanks to its members.
How to Spot the Next One Early
You might think that catching a meme coin TikTok wave depends solely on luck and being in the right place at the right time. However, there is more to it than that. The trick is to watch the data and spot patterns before the crowd starts noticing. Virality works quickly, but it doesn’t happen at once, and it is leaving clues for traders and developers seeking new opportunities. For example:
- Track TikTok hashtags: Track hashtags on TikTok, particularly #cryptotok, #memecoin, and #viralcoin, but also branch out and monitor other emerging phrases tied to jokes, animals, and even viral sounds.
- Use data tools: Platforms like LunarCrush, DexTools trending, Bitget Signal Bot, TweetScout, and CryptoPanic can let you spot new memes before their accompanying meme coin prices skyrocket.
- Watch sentiment shifts: Big projects start with sentiment. When comments start to move from “what is this” to “everyone is talking about this,” that is the signal that the ignition phase has started.
- Look for small creator memes gaining traction: Once you identify the start of the ignition phase, look for smaller creators who are experimenting with meme formats, as they often set the trends that bigger influencers later take over and make them viral.
How Can You Track Trending Meme Coins on TikTok?
Start with TikTok’s search bar and hashtag analytics, and look for the common hashtags, such as #cryptotok and #memecoin, but also specific sound trends paired with coin names. Then combine this with tools like LunarCrush or TweetScout to check if their social mentions are growing. If the meme’s reach is still larger than its market cap, you are still early.
Risk & Reward
The meme coin TikTok scene moves quickly, and as mentioned earlier, projects can see their market cap go from under a million to dozens of millions in a day or two. However, note that they also crash back down just as quickly, so if you manage to spot a trend early on and buy a corresponding crypto, don’t wait too long before you move on to your exit strategy. For example:
- Sell in tranches: With meme coins, speed is essential. Note that this sector does not reward patience - quite the opposite. Follow a simple exit strategy of selling in tranches - 30% after your position doubles (2x), another 50% around 5x gains, and then let the remaining 20% ride out the trend if the volume and mentions are still on the rise.
- Avoid “diamond hands” in hype coins: Do not fall for community vibes and hold on to your coins through a 100x run. Keep in mind that you are there to make a profit, and waiting for too long and supporting a project will only leave you holding a dead token. It will most likely fail, like thousands before and after it, and the meme market is not about conviction, but timing and liquidity.
- Use stop-loss automation on DEXes: Use stop-loss tools and automation on decentralized exchanges like Matcha and GMX, as meme coins tend to see violent swings, and automation will keep your own emotions out of the equation.
- Diversify meme bets like a VC portfolio: Remember that the key to success is diversification. You should not put all of your eggs in one basket, and you should not put all of your money in one token. Treat your meme coin experiments as micro investments where you hold small positions across multiple early-stage projects.
Where Meme Investing Is Headed
The meme coin TikTok phenomenon is still fairly new, but for now, it is not showing signs that it is ready to go away just yet. Rather, it seems to be developing further and becoming more organized, even evolving into a new layer of the crypto economy.
This year has seen projects like Dawgz AI merge utility with virality, showing that memes not only entertain but also generate.
Exchanges themselves are catching on to the trend and are now scouting trends directly from TikTok to be quick about onboarding the first meme coins tied to any newly-emerged meme and generating their own profits from trades.
As this continues to develop into a bigger and more lasting trend, the next bull run’s first movers will likely be socially engineered tokens, rather than the more traditional whitepaper-based projects.
Conclusion
In conclusion, meme coins are more than just jokes. After emerging in 2021 and blowing up in 2023 and 2024, they have evolved into something new in 2025, creating an entirely new market of attention, timing, and strategy. Most importantly, they did it using TikTok’s algorithms, which managed to turn random obscure tokens into $50 million market cap assets overnight.
Just remember that success doesn’t mean following the hype blindly, but rather approaching it with a logical and investigative eye. Train yourself to spot patterns and read sentiment, followed by disciplined trading where you stick to the rules no matter what your emotions tell you to do, and you will have greater chances of seeing success.
