The First Investment for Most Crypto Users is Meme Tokens

Over the past year, meme tokens have attracted significant attention in the crypto space, recording large trading volumes and generating returns of several thousand percent in a matter of hours in some cases, despite being highly controversial. Behind these often viral tokens lies more than just the headlines.

Meme tokens encourage broader participation in crypto

According to the latest report titled State of Crypto from the crypto exchange Gemini led by the Winklevoss twins, meme tokens encourage newcomers to explore the digital asset industry. This was determined after conducting a survey of 7,205 users in the US, UK, France, Italy, Singapore, and Australia, approximately 1,200 users per country.

A large majority, 94 percent of meme token owners also own other types of cryptocurrencies, suggesting that meme tokens act as a bridge into the broader crypto ecosystem. It appears that many users begin their journey with these tokens before becoming further interested.

For example, 31 percent of American investors who own both meme tokens and traditional cryptocurrencies say that meme tokens were their first crypto purchase. This trend is similarly reflected in Australia and the United Kingdom, which lag behind at 28 percent each, followed by Singapore at 23, Italy at 22, and France at 19 percent.

Interestingly, France also leads in overall meme token ownership, with 67 percent of crypto investors owning at least one. The trend continues in other regions with Singapore at 59, Italy at 58, the UK at 57, the US at 55, and Australia at 45 percent.

Europe leads in cryptocurrency ownership

Cryptocurrency ownership has steadily increased across multiple regions following the market downturn in 2022. Europe has seen a significant rise. In 2025, 24 percent of respondents in the United Kingdom reported owning cryptocurrency, up from 18 percent in 2024.

France recorded a similar increase, with ownership rising to 21, also from 18 percent the previous year. Analysts attribute this growth in part to a more favorable regulatory climate in Europe, driven by the gradual introduction of a regulatory framework for crypto-asset markets in the EU (MiCA) over the past two years. Singapore recorded the highest rate of cryptocurrency ownership among the surveyed countries, with 28 percent of respondents stating they own digital assets.

In the US, recent policies from President Donald Trump regarding cryptocurrencies are also influencing public sentiment. After promising to support digital assets during his campaign, Trump launched a strategic national reserve, restructured the SEC towards a more innovation-driven stance, and supported legislation aimed at regulating stablecoins and the crypto market.

Additionally, he launched his own meme token, which reached a market capitalization of nearly $3 billion this month. These movements seem to bolster confidence among potential investors. Nearly 23 percent of respondents who have not invested in cryptocurrencies in the US said that the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve made them more confident in the value of cryptocurrencies.

Trump’s initiatives have an international impact on attitudes towards investing in digital assets, as 21 percent of non-crypto owners in the UK and 19 percent in Singapore expressed a similar sentiment.