The 16th through the 23rd of June saw a second whirlwind blow through the world of crypto, and memecoins stole the spotlight again with their fast-evolving stories and sudden market shifts. Bitcoin ranged from $98,000 to $102,000, the market placid but hardly uneventful. Geopolitics and a series of platform scandals had wider sentiment in the driving seat, but memecoins did a great deal of the heavy work with the mix of humor, celebrity endorsements, and blockchain technology.

Let’s break down the highlights, the most significant tokens, and largest events that characterized the week.

Meme Coin Weekly Recap: June 16 – 23, 2025

June 16 – 23, 2025 was a week of excitement for memecoins. While Bitcoin oscillated between $98,000 and $102,000 relatively smoothly, smaller tokens’ highs and lows took a free ride on hype, social media trend, and community momentum. Below are the top memecoins of the week, including politically-charged launches to laughable comedy coins.

T1 ($T1) Surges on Trump Mobile Buzz

Combined with the Trump Mobile announcement, T1 jumped 60 percent to a $30 million market cap by June 20. Daily trading volume hit $8 million with political drama and media coverage helping to propel it to the upper echelons. Its project was controversial but sparked a vehement speculative demand.

Pepe Wif Cig ($PWC) Gets a Lift from Musk

PWC picked up momentum after one of its proponents, Elon Musk, discussed it on X. Merging memes of Pepe the Frog and Dogwifhat, the coin appreciated 50 percent and reached a market cap of $22 million on a matched volume of $6 million. The rally proved that the power of viral content can send markets soaring overnight.

Gorbagana ($GOR) Grows with Solana Support

Supported by a Solana co-founder, Gorbagana spurred 40 percent to a $18 million market cap. The currency, which had $5 million in volume and a very active Launchgram presence, had alternative branding and community backing.

Hasui ($HASUI) and Scallop ($SCA) Represent Sui

Hasui, the Sui network’s liquid staking token, climbed 30 percent to $15 million. Scallop, a DeFi infrastructure-focused token, was up 25 percent at $12 million. The two tokens reflected the growing capability of the Sui ecosystem to host memecoin launches.

Fartbook ($FB), Pawse ($PAWSE), and Solottery ($LTRY) Add Comic Relief

Fartbook shot up 35 percent to $14 million as crypto humor tickled the funny bone of its fans. Pawse rose 20 percent to $10 million with communities that are pet-friendly. Solottery, the meme token that is lottery-focused, rose 15 percent to $8 million after riding a wave of gamified trading.

Melania ($MELANIA) and ZenAI ($ZENAI) Raise Eyebrows

Melania jumped 80 percent to $20 million before plummeting 50 percent on pump-and-dump claims. The incident raised ethical boundaries for memecoin marketing. ZenAI, a Solana token based on the theme of AI, jumped by 30 percent to $11 million. The technological savvy trader appeal gave credibility despite the saturated market.

Banned Guy ($BANNED) Capitalizes on Controversy

Founded by a censored internet icon, BANNED grew 25 percent to a market cap of $9 million. This project was all-in on freedom-of-speech narratives, drawing on the interests of niche crypto-X audiences.

Other Notable News: June 16 to 23, 2025

Several broader developments also influenced the market this week. Geopolitical conflict, security breaches, and regulatory questions created a volatile backdrop for both Bitcoin and memecoins.

Bitcoin Trades Sideways Amid Caution

BTC moved between $98,000 and $102,000 during the week with daily volume ranging from $14 billion to $17 billion. While there were no major swings, caution remained high due to ongoing global tensions and shifting sentiment around high-risk assets.

U.S. Strikes Iranian Nuclear Facilities

On June 21, the U.S. carried out coordinated strikes on Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites using B-2 bombers and Tomahawk missiles. Iran reported 430 civilian deaths while Israeli casualties reached 24 after retaliatory missile attacks. Despite President Trump’s claim that the facilities were destroyed, Iran denied any radiation leaks or major infrastructure damage. Markets responded with caution as fears of wider war grew.

Pump.fun Suspension Halts Momentum

Pump.fun and its founder A1lon9 were suspended on June 17 without explanation. The incident disrupted new token launches on Solana and delayed the platform’s planned $1 billion raise to July. The move raised liquidity concerns across multiple memecoins, including $PWC and $GOR, which had relied on Pump.fun for visibility.

X Teases Crypto Investment Tools

On June 19, X announced plans to introduce investment features, possibly including integrated crypto trading. The news boosted sentiment among memecoin traders, although concerns over compliance and platform security lingered.

a16z Account Hack Leads to $700K Scam

A hacked account linked to venture firm a16z promoted a fake token launch on June 18. The scam raised $700,000 before being exposed. While damage was limited, the incident highlighted ongoing vulnerabilities in crypto marketing and public trust.

Solana Retains Its Lead in Meme Tokens

Despite the Pump.fun setback, Solana remained the most active chain for meme coin activity. Projects like $PWC, $GOR, and $LTRY drove high volumes, with platforms like Launchgram helping sustain launch momentum. Low transaction fees and strong developer tools continued to make Solana the preferred home for fast-moving tokens.

Conclusion

The week of June 16 to June 23 showed us just how fast the memecoin world can change. T1, Gorbagana, and Pepe Wif Cig were leading the pack with their headline-making stories and constant community engagement. Behind the scenes, however, the situation was not at all static, with geopolitical tensions, platform bans, and regulation hanging in the balance of the market.

Memecoins remain a domain of risk and innovation in equal measure. While the era of innovation is simply mind-boggling, never before has the need to be diligent in research and risk management been more critical. With Solana and Sui revving up new stories and platforms such as X holding out the promise of greater integration, the memecoin universe is evolving at a neck-break rate. Investors must remain smart, question the hype, and exercise caution in this constantly evolving environment.

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