The 2024 Cat-themed New Coin Boom: Why Are These New Cat Meme Projects Exploding in the Market?

Last year, the hype around the Dogecoin series had not yet subsided, and this year, the cat-themed crypto assets have already entered the spotlight. From Telegram mini-games to blockbuster projects on Solana, a “cat wave” is reshaping the entire meme coin ecosystem. According to CoinGecko statistics, the total market cap of cat-themed tokens has surpassed $3.1 billion, with over 260 projects distributed across mainstream blockchains such as Ethereum, Solana, and Base.

What is the hidden behind this phenomenon? Why can cat tokens quickly go from niche to mainstream? Let’s uncover the truth behind this “new cat meme.”

Why Have Cat Tokens Become the Hottest Track This Year?

Telegram Ecosystem Booster

The most critical variable in 2024 is the explosion of Telegram mini-games. Projects like Catizen (CATI) and CATS have directly reached hundreds of millions of ordinary users by embedding GameFi into Telegram. No complicated wallet operations are needed; users can participate in play-to-earn directly within the chat app. This innovative experience has attracted a large mainstream audience. The CATS project alone has accumulated over 47 million token holders, and CATI has surpassed 34 million active users. This frictionless access method has completely changed the dissemination logic of meme coins.

Shift in Community DNA

It’s more of a community movement than just tokens. Take Toshi, for example, which uses governance mechanisms like MEOW DAO to allow token holders to participate in project decisions. This sense of ownership and involvement is more effective at retaining users than any marketing tactic. Every participant becomes a promoter, spontaneously creating content across various social platforms. This is the core reason meme coins can go viral—they stimulate a collective sense of identity rather than mere speculative desire.

Eye-Catching Price Performance

Data speaks for itself. Popcat (POPCAT) surged over 1600% shortly after launch, a return rate that commands attention. Meanwhile, Cat in a Dogs World (MEW) quickly reached a market cap of $422 million after launch. These impressive gains have not only attracted high-risk traders but also caught the attention of institutions and influencers. Rising prices serve as the best form of advertising.

Who Are the Star Players in the New Cat Meme Field?

Telegram Ecosystem’s Double Stars Shine

Catizen (CATI) is currently priced at $0.06, with a 24-hour increase of +2.15%, and a circulating market cap of $24.05M. This project has become the most attractive GameFi application within the TON ecosystem, with a user base of 34 million demonstrating its influence. The team plans to launch over 200 mini-games by 2025, a development speed far exceeding industry expectations.

CATS, another viral Telegram application, features built-in AI cat recognition and airdrop interaction mechanisms, completely rewriting ordinary users’ understanding of crypto assets. Although there is no recent official update, its community activity remains top-tier in the industry.

Content Creation Machine on Solana

Popcat (POPCAT) is currently trading at $0.08, with a circulating market cap of $79.49M and a 24-hour trading volume of $240.38K. The smartest aspect of this project is that it has built an AI-based meme creation platform, enabling community members to continuously produce content. This is not a one-time token issuance but a sustainable content feedback loop—better memes lead to more exposure, a stronger community, and higher prices.

A Dark Horse That Reached $400 Million in Market Cap in Two Months

Cat in a Dogs World (MEW) is currently priced at $0.00 with a market cap of $79.95M. The cleverness of this project lies in its tokenomics—burning 90% of liquidity pool tokens to create scarcity, a rare move in the meme coin space. It not only attracts attention through a “battle against dog coins” narrative but also maintains price stability through tangible tokenomics adjustments.

Star Tag on Base Chain

Toshi (TOSHI) shows a latest price of $0.00, with a circulating market cap of $126.92M and a 24-hour increase of +3.97%. Named after the Coinbase CEO’s cat, this project is becoming a flagship application in the Base ecosystem. Its potential lies in the expansion of the Base network ecosystem, which will further highlight Toshi’s value as an “indigenous token.”

Other Noteworthy Newcomers

Wen (WEN) has launched NFT sharding mechanisms on Solana and has gained support from Twitter influencer @ShouldHaveCat (over 4 million followers). Bitcoin Cats (1CAT) is deployed on both Bitcoin and Ethereum, currently priced at $0.00. Such multi-chain strategies are still novel in the meme coin space. Projects like Simon’s Cat (CAT) and MANEKI each have their unique features, tapping into well-known IPs and Japanese culture respectively.

How to Safely Join the New Cat Meme Frenzy?

Choosing the Right Platform Is Key

Centralized exchanges are the most convenient choice. Cat coins listed on mainstream exchanges have undergone basic reviews, offering relatively higher security. Beginners are advised to start here and then explore decentralized exchanges once familiar.

For Telegram ecosystem tokens (CATS, CATI), you need to set up the corresponding TON wallet. The advantage of these applications is the lowered technical barrier—users can complete all operations within the app without fiddling with wallet addresses.

Risk Control Always Comes First

While rapid gains in new tokens are tempting, they also carry the risk of sharp declines. The recommended approach for beginners is: allocate 70% to industry-leading coins (like BTC, ETH), 20% to growing projects, and 10% to high-risk, high-reward new cat memes for trial.

Before entering, do your homework: read the project whitepaper, understand the actual use cases of the token beyond trading value, evaluate the team’s background and community activity. Check how well the project team fulfills their promises—many projects talk a good game, but only those that deliver features on time are worth holding long-term.

Monitor On-Chain Data and Community Sentiment

Is the distribution of large holdings reasonable? If you find that the team and institutions hold an overly concentrated amount, be cautious. Is the community’s activity sustainable? If hype depends solely on a big V or celebrity effect, the project’s lifespan is often very short.

Set Stop-Loss and Take-Profit Levels

These tokens are far more volatile than mainstream coins. A practical strategy is to make small, multiple attempts—once your target profit (e.g., 2x) is reached, take profits gradually. Set stop-loss points (e.g., 30% drop) to prevent large losses from black swan events.

The Logic Behind the New Cat Meme

On the surface, the rise of cat tokens is just another iteration of internet culture. But the deeper logic is that the combination of social tools like Telegram and blockchain has drastically lowered the barriers to entry for crypto assets. Ordinary people no longer need to understand smart contracts to participate in this movement.

At the same time, this also reflects genuine market demand: people seek not only investment returns but also a sense of belonging within a community. Cat tokens satisfy this psychological need—they offer the imagination of wealth and the opportunity to join a creative, fun group.

How long will this wave last? No one can say for sure. But one thing is clear: the 2024 “new cat meme” trend has already proven that in the crypto market, the fusion of culture and technology can create surprises beyond expectations.

The key is to find the right rhythm, control risks, and enjoy this collective creative carnival.