The ongoing debate over the memecoin wave in the cryptocurrency market took an interesting turn when Castle Island Ventures partner Nic Carter suggested that these digital assets were, in part, a response to the restrictive regulatory environment of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Carter argues that the easing of cryptocurrency regulations that would follow a Trump victory would negatively impact memecoins.
However, leading crypto influencers Cobie and Murad brought up different factors.
Cobie, on the other hand, took a more strident stance, arguing that the SEC’s influence on memecoins is minimal. He noted that for most investors, sourcing early-stage non-memecoins is nearly impossible due to current fundraising models. Cobie called for the SEC to create exemptions for decentralized token projects, creating more equitable and compliant crowdfunding opportunities.
Adding another dimension to the debate, memecoin influencer Murad claimed that politics, especially in the context of SEC regulations, is not the main driver behind the memecoin boom. Instead, he attributed their popularity to broader socio-economic trends, particularly the continued expansion of the global money supply.
“99% of memecoin buyers don’t care about politics,” Murad said. Murad believes these investors are more attracted to the potential for big price gains than traditional fundamentals or cash flows. Murad also dismissed the idea that opening up fee switches — the mechanisms that capture and distribute protocol revenues — aligns with crypto traders’ motivations. In his view, attempts to make altcoins more like stocks won’t resonate with the community.
“Everyone is coming to crypto looking for parabolic gains,” Murad said, arguing that as the global money supply increases, attention will become more valuable than traditional fundamentals.
*This is not investment advice.