When did memes stop being jokes and start leading the market?

[Zeekiel]

Meme coins were once seen as nothing more than internet fun quick pumps that came and went. But seeing how $ANI and $PENGU are moving on Solana, it’s clear the story is changing.

 

Both tokens have been showing notable progress on BingX, with $ANI making headlines after Elon’s Grok AI casually mentioned “Ani.” What seemed like a typical viral moment quickly turned into heavy trading activity, with over $40 million in daily volume. It climbed to the top spot by chain activity on Solana and secured a top-three position on Raydium. This wasn’t just hype; it was real momentum driven by cultural influence.

 

PENGU has been even more impressive. A 400 percent rally in a month, flipping $BONK and claiming the top meme spot on Solana. But what really stands out is how major platforms like Coinbase, OpenSea, VanEck, MoonPay, and Polkadot are now featuring Pudgy Penguin PFPs. This goes beyond memes it's brand visibility at a level most tokens never reach. It feels like meme coins are no longer just side-shows. They are becoming full-blown ecosystems that drive liquidity and chain activity. The line between culture and capital is starting to blur.

 

So the question is not if memes will stick around, but rather, how far can this culture-driven liquidity cycle go?