The crypto market is heating up with a wave of risky trading as more traders jump into memecoins. On-chain data firm Santiment says online chatter about memecoins heats up its highest level of 2025.
Over the past two weeks, investor focus has shifted quickly from Bitcoin and Layer 1 projects to meme-based tokens. This shift came after market fear over new tariffs introduced by the Trump administration. Now, traders seem more focused on short-term gains instead of long-term growth.
“People are talking more about risky tokens,” said Brian Quinlivan, Santiment’s marketing head, on May 1. “Traders are chasing fast profits and ignoring careful investment strategies. Speculation is back in full force.”
Memecoins Surge While Bitcoin Slows
In the last eight days, the total crypto market grew 10%. But Bitcoin rose only 7%. This shows that traders are moving their money into high-risk altcoins instead of safer assets like BTC.
“When Bitcoin starts to rise and then stalls, traders usually shift to riskier coins for bigger returns,” Quinlivan added.
Dogecoin Gets a Boost from ETF News
Dogecoin’s social buzz returned strongly in late April after a quiet period. The excitement came after several DOGE ETF filings hit the news in the U.S. Although the SEC won’t decide until mid-June, the DOGE community is feeling hopeful.
“Dogecoin lost attention in early April,” said Quinlivan. “But now it’s leading on social media again, reaching the highest level in three months as ETF talk grows.”
Pump.Fun Trading Volume Breaks Records
The memecoin craze is also showing up in trading data. PumpSwap, the decentralized exchange built on Pump.Fun, saw its trading volume jump to $11 billion in April. That’s a huge leap from $1.7 billion in March, based on DefiLlama data.
Pump.Fun itself saw $3.3 billion in monthly volume in April, up from $2.5 billion in March. This followed the January 18 launch of a memecoin tied to U.S. President Donald Trump. That coin helped push weekly trading on Pump.Fun to a record $3.3 billion.
Hype Slowed Earlier This Year
Even though memecoins are hot now, interest fell earlier in the year. CoinGecko co-founder Bobby Ong said in March that investor excitement dropped after many failed meme launches. The crash of the LIBRA token in February played a big role in that decline.
Final Thoughts
Memecoins can bring fast profits, but they come with high risk. As traders chase hype and short-term wins, it’s more important than ever to do your research and trade wisely.
Disclaimer: This article is for information only. It is not investment advice. Please research carefully before making any financial decisions.
