Token as Stance: How Meme Coins Transform from Speculative Games to Political Pressure Valves

The Meme coins in the cryptocurrency space are undergoing a profound transformation in value. Initially regarded as speculative products of the market, they have now become innovative vehicles for political expression. The evolution of these assets reflects the complex interaction between the crypto ecosystem and modern social ideologies.

Awakening of Political Attributes: From PEOPLE to RFC

In the last market cycle, PEOPLE coin, as the representative token of ConstitutionDAO, showcased the early form of the combination of Meme assets and political action. Although its initial goal was to bid for the original manuscript of the U.S. Constitution, a historical artifact with significant political symbolism, PEOPLE still retained value in the market after the project did not succeed, becoming a symbol of decentralized community collective action.

Currently, the global market is experiencing a chain reaction caused by policy fluctuations. The trade policies of major global economies are erratic, with tariff standards changing frequently, leading to severe volatility in traditional markets. Major stock indices plummeted after hours, mainstream crypto assets significantly retraced from their highs, and traditional safe-haven assets struggled to provide stable protection in this highly uncertain environment, leaving investors generally confused, unable to rely on traditional market rules for positioning, and finding it difficult to completely exit the market. This collective anxiety and sense of dislocation have objectively created a strong demand for new channels of emotional expression.

It is against this backdrop that the new generation of politically charged Meme coins found fertile ground for survival and explosion. They no longer express their positions obscurely but openly position themselves as representatives of specific political viewpoints. It can even be said that holding certain Meme coins has become a form of political statement.

RFC (Retard Finder) emerged. The official social media account of Retard Finder was created in December 2024, with most of its content focusing on immigration policies and radical environmental issues, criticizing the "white left."

Against the backdrop of most crypto assets continuing to decline, RFC achieved remarkable growth, becoming a rare highlight in the market. Its price multiplied several times within just a week, with its market capitalization rapidly soaring from a few million dollars to tens of millions, and it reached a maximum increase of 730% on Coinstore. This market performance validates the emotional premium capacity of political narratives in the crypto space.

How Do Meme Coins Become a Pressure Valve for Society?

From People to RFC, the phenomenon of politically charged Meme coins is not just a financial behavior but also a sociological phenomenon worthy of in-depth study. From social media data, some successful political Meme projects often achieve explosive growth in fan numbers within a short period, with daily growth rates far exceeding those of traditional political accounts. This phenomenon reflects the current societal desire for concise and incisive political expression.

Moreover, it is noteworthy that the performance of political Meme coins often outperforms mainstream assets during bear markets. When the entire crypto market is in decline, certain political Meme coins can achieve significant positive returns. This divergence from the broader market can be explained from a social psychology perspective, as during market downturns, investors' confidence in traditional assets wanes, leading them to seek alternatives that can simultaneously satisfy investment needs and emotional release.

This also explains why the price trends of political Meme coins are so sensitive to interactions with social media influencers. A simple comment or retweet can lead to a rapid surge in the market capitalization of the related tokens. This is not a rational investor's judgment of intrinsic value but a momentary explosion of collective emotion—users express support and recognition for specific values through their purchasing behavior.

On a deeper level, this phenomenon reveals that crypto assets are becoming "emotional carriers" in the digital age. When traditional investment channels fail, crypto assets serve as a "pressure valve" for collective psychology, with their price fluctuations essentially quantifying the strength of social consensus.

Tokens as Stances: The Future Narrative Evolution of Meme Coins

As Meme coins transition from mere entertainment symbols to tools for political expression, we have reason to believe that the future crypto market will witness a richer and more diverse narrative development. The following trends are worth noting:

First, the integration of Meme assets with real-world actions will become closer. Some forward-looking projects have begun to explore linking token ownership with actual social activities, such as granting specific Meme token holders priority to participate in offline events or using token voting to decide the direction of community funds for public welfare. This integration of online assets with offline actions will further enhance the social influence of Meme assets.

Second, "multi-layered narratives" will become a hallmark of successful Meme projects. Future top Meme coins will no longer rely on a single narrative but will construct a complex narrative system that includes financial returns, social recognition, cultural participation, and more. This multi-layered narrative will significantly enhance the resilience and vitality of projects, allowing them to continuously attract users in different market environments.

Finally, Meme assets will increasingly assume the function of the "fifth power," becoming another force for opinion expression and social oversight beyond existing media and social networks. When holding specific Meme assets itself becomes a form of stance expression, the price fluctuations of these assets to some extent also reflect the popularity and influence of specific viewpoints in society.

The politicization of Meme coins is not only a localized phenomenon in the crypto market but also a precursor to the revolutionary paradigm shift in value expression in the digital age. When financial tools deeply couple with social movements, we may be witnessing a special practice of Habermas's "theory of communicative action" in the crypto space.