Recently, I’ve noticed something quite interesting in the crypto community—people often confuse Memecoins and Shitcoins, as if they’re the same thing. But in reality, they’re completely different, especially once you understand what a shitcoin is and the traits it brings.

You may have heard of DOGE—launched in 2013 as a joke by Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer, inspired by the famous Shiba Inu meme. The crazy part is that the community turned it into a real cultural phenomenon. They raised funds for a Jamaican ski team, supported clean water projects—everything stemming from community cohesion. Today, DOGE’s market cap is about $16.66 billion, an enormous figure for a “silly joke coin” at first.

Then there are SHIB and PEPE—following the same formula, but each with its own story. SHIB is currently around $3.70 billion, and PEPE is about $1.75 billion. They prove that when a community truly believes in and participates in something, a meme can become a significant asset.

So what is a shitcoin? It’s coins that have no foundation at all—no technology, no real community—just projects created to “cut the wheat” from investors. They appear overnight, with flashy promotions, and then suddenly vanish along with your money. Unlike Memecoins, which have staying power rooted in internet culture, Shitcoins are just financial zombies built on manipulation and scams.

The tricky part here is that some Memecoins were originally treated as Shitcoins—especially short-term projects that got abandoned. But the difference is that Memecoins have a community behind them, a history, and a purpose—while Shitcoins do not. DOGE is used for tipping on X, and PEPE redefines meme ownership from Web2 to Web3. They create a sense of belonging and a shared identity.

But what about Shitcoins? They only exploit trends and contribute nothing to the story. The team runs away, investors become “couch potatoes,” and all that’s left is disappointment and lost money.

What I want to say is: Memecoins are containers of internet culture, products of collective trust. Shitcoins are just parasites. Be careful not to let the ghosts of these scam projects ruin the reputation of truly valuable Memecoins. This difference matters more than you think.