Why Biden Coin Fails: Understanding the Gap Between Meme Status and Token Value

Justin Sun recently shared an insightful perspective on the mechanics behind successful meme coins, highlighting a critical distinction that separates winners from failures in the digital asset space.

The core principle is straightforward: meme coins function as mechanisms for monetizing internet attention. However, this seemingly simple concept masks a profound challenge in execution. Sun illustrated this through a revealing hypothetical: if Biden were to launch a token today, it would likely face minimal adoption—not due to technical flaws, but because Biden remains primarily a political figure rather than having evolved into a recognizable internet meme or cultural IP.

This points to a fundamental truth in the attention economy. The mere ability to create and distribute a token carries minimal value. What matters is the gap between issuance and genuine market recognition. Countless projects launch daily, yet only those that successfully transition from novelty to cultural phenomenon achieve meaningful traction.

The distinction between being a public figure or brand name and becoming an authentic internet meme represents a chasm in market psychology. For a token to succeed, its underlying narrative must resonate across digital communities, accumulate social momentum, and establish genuine cultural relevance. A Biden coin launched today would lack this critical transformation—the president’s name alone cannot bridge the gap between awareness and adoption.

Sun’s observation underscores why the internet meme phenomenon has become so integral to certain token launches. Successful projects understand that converting fleeting internet attention into sustained value requires more than visibility. It demands that a project or name transcend its original context to become part of the cultural fabric—becoming something people actively want to participate in and discuss, rather than simply recognize.

The true winners in this space are those who master the art of capturing internet meme status and translating that cultural currency into token value. This remains the essential challenge facing any new launch in today’s competitive landscape.