The week of March 31 to April 7, 2025, was a rollercoaster for the crypto and meme coin markets, heavily influenced by President Trump’s escalating tariff threats. These policies triggered significant drops in both stock and crypto markets, with Bitcoin plummeting by April 6 amid a global sell-off. Despite the turbulence, meme coins like Action Figure and Housecoin surged, reflecting resilience and speculative fervor. This recap dives into the market dynamics, spotlighting Trump’s tariffs as a pivotal force, alongside other key developments.
Meme Coin Weekly Recap: March 31 – April 7, 2025
Meme coins showcased a mix of explosive growth and vulnerability this week, with Trump’s tariff threats casting a long shadow. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index hit “Extreme Fear” as markets reacted, yet new tokens tied to cultural and societal narratives thrived. Here’s a detailed look at the standout performers and market movements.
Action Figure ($FIGURE) Surges on Solana
Action Figure ($FIGURE), a Solana-based meme coin tied to AI-generated images, soared 657% to a $3.9M market cap, with $3.8M in trading volume recorded mid-week. Branded action figures from exchanges like Bybit and Kraken fueled its hype, following the Ghiblification trend’s playbook. Despite a late-week market dip triggered by Trump’s tariffs, $FIGURE held a $3.5M cap, showcasing resilience with $2M daily volume.
Housecoin ($HOUSE) Reflects Gen Z Housing Revolt
Housecoin ($HOUSE) captured Gen Z’s frustration with unaffordable housing, climbing 93% to an $8.2M market cap and $6.8M in volume mid-week. Its narrative as a speculative rebellion against economic woes resonated strongly, peaking at $9M before tariff-induced sell-offs trimmed it to $7.5M. Trading volume remained robust at $5M, signaling sustained interest.
Cheesemaga Ties to Elon Musk’s Cheesehead
Cheesemaga, inspired by Elon Musk wearing a cheesehead hat, peaked at a $820K market cap early in the week. Linked to MAGA and dairy culture, it saw $1.2M in volume before fading to $600K as tariff fears hit. Its 50% drop mirrored broader meme coin volatility, with volume shrinking to $300K.
Retard Finder Coin (RFC) Rides Musk’s X Post
Retard Finder Coin (RFC), sparked by Musk’s controversial X post mocking departing scientists, surged 234% to an $8.7M market cap with $19.9M in volume early on. The tariff-driven market rout cut it to $6M by week’s end, though $10M in daily trades showed lingering speculative momentum.
Deer Seized ($BABY) Peaks Amid Government Narrative
Deer Seized ($BABY), symbolizing resistance to government overreach after a deer seizure, hit $11.7M mid-week with a 77% surge and $5.3M volume. It settled at $1.8M after tariff-related sell-offs, with $4M in trades, highlighting its volatile yet culturally charged run.
Wintermute’s Sell-Off Crashes Meme Coin Market
Wintermute’s suspected dump of $ACT and other meme coins on BNB Chain caused a 50% price crash, slashing market caps by $50M collectively. This move, amplifying tariff fears, saw $FARTCOIN briefly buck the trend with X hype, peaking at $2M before settling at $1.5M with $1M volume.
Coinbase Boosts $DOGINME and $KEYCAT
Coinbase’s trading support for $DOGINME and $KEYCAT on Base network sparked gains of 60% ($1.2M cap) and 32% ($70M cap), respectively, with combined $15M volume early in the week. Tariff-induced sell-offs later trimmed gains to 40% and 20%, but listing legitimacy cushioned losses.
Other Notable News: March 31 – April 7, 2025
Beyond meme coins, the week was packed with significant crypto developments, heavily influenced by Trump’s tariffs and other industry shifts. Here’s a rundown of the key events.
Trump’s Tariffs Tank Stock and Crypto Markets
Trump’s tariff escalation, targeting reciprocal trade policies, led to a 5% drop in the S&P 500 and a 10% crypto market decline by April 6, per CNBC. Bitcoin rallied to $85,000 early, dipped to $82,850 mid-week, and crashed to $75,000 on Sunday. Ethereum crashed through the $1,500 mark, causing questions about its Queen position as tariff fears drove investors to gold, which hit $3,153.
Gold Hits All-Time High at $3,153
Gold surged to $3,153, with tokenized gold ($XAUT, $PAXG) as investors fled crypto and stocks amid tariff uncertainty.
Vitalik Buterin Donates 274.1 ETH
Vitalik Buterin contributed 274.1 ETH ($500K) to Zuitzerland, boosting Ethereum’s goodwill amid market chaos. The donation’s purpose wasn’t specified, but it coincided with ETH’s $3B daily volume.
Binance Launches Seeds Program
Binance’s Seeds Program debuted, aiming to fund new projects with $10M initial capital. It added $5M in liquidity to BNB Chain, stabilizing BNB at $500 despite a $2B tariff-related sell-off.
VanEck Files for First BNB ETF
VanEck’s filing for a US BNB ETF signaled institutional interest, potentially lifting BNB’s $75B market cap. Tariff fears delayed optimism, with BNB dropping 3% to $485.
Elon Musk Steps Down from Doge Leadership
Elon Musk’s exit from Doge leadership raised questions about DOGE’s future, dropping it 5% to $0.19 with $1B volume. The move overlapped with tariff-driven market stress.
FDUSD Peg Wobbles, Justin Sun Steps In
FDUSD slipped to $0.76 before restoring to $1, with $2B volume, amid cash flow issues. Justin Sun’s involvement stabilized it, though trust waned as tariff fears lingered.
New Launches: Auto Fun, Eliza V2, Orange Diamond
Auto Fun and Eliza V2 launched with $1M combined liquidity, while Orange Diamond hit $173K on BSC, tied to CZ’s philosophy. Tariff impacts limited their gains to 20%.
Conclusion
Trump’s tariffs were the week’s defining force, driving a significant stock and crypto market drop that tested meme coin resilience. Action Figure and Housecoin thrived amid the chaos, while Bitcoin and broader markets reeled. With gold soaring and industry shifts like Musk’s Doge exit, the interplay of policy, speculation, and innovation shaped a tumultuous yet revealing week.
