The "financial rebellion" of young Americans: betting on MEME for a turnaround, satirical cultural memes coin becomes popular.

Some Generation Z's "financial nihilism" is pushing them towards the encryption world.

Written by: Nancy, PANews

Recently, emerging MEME coins like RFC, House, and TROLL have rapidly gained popularity. These memes, filled with absurdity, absurd humor, and even dark humor, have not only become speculative tools favored by Generation Z but also carry the rebellious sentiments of young people against the traditional financial system and social rules, reflecting a unique alternative financial culture landscape stamped by the times.

The "Financial Rebellion" of Generation Z, Betting on MEME Coins for a Comeback

A few days ago, a report by The Washington Post revealed a financial trend quietly rising among young people in the United States: an increasing number of Generation Z are viewing MEME coins as an alternative path to achieving the "American Dream." Under the real pressures of high housing prices, heavy student debt, and slow wage growth, traditional routes to wealth (such as home buying and saving for retirement) have become increasingly out of reach for them. This disappointment with the existing financial system is driving a grassroots wealth "rebellion." Compared to traditional financial tools, this generation is more willing to dive into the highly volatile MEME coin market, even if it means betting a few hundred dollars, hoping to strike it rich overnight.

Article citation data shows that the participation of young people in the cryptocurrency field in the United States is significantly higher than that of older individuals: 42% of males aged 18 to 29 have participated in encryption activities (investing, trading, or using), compared to 17% of females; while among those aged 50 and above, the participation is 11% for males and only 5% for females.

The report outlines the real appearance of this trend through multiple true cases. For example, 25-year-old Yuvia Mendoza hopes to become the next "Roaring Kitty" by creating a related token to save the nearly bankrupt restaurant chain Hooters, and at one point used cryptocurrency to buy T-shirts for waitstaff, trying to "empower" the token. Despite the token's price eventually plummeting, she continues to be active in the MEME coin space, shifting to other projects in an attempt to capture potential wealth explosions.

Joe McCann, founder and CEO of crypto hedge fund Asymmetric, pointed out that the "financial nihilism" of some Gen Zers is pushing them into the crypto world. Saddled with high student loans and more likely to live with their parents, this generation is less concerned about 401(k) pension savings than their predecessors, preferring to bet a few hundred dollars on a meme coin because they feel they have "no choice."

At the recent ETHDenver conference, 27-year-old Veronica Sutton, wearing a bright red "Make America Great Again" hat, stated that today's "American Dream" is different from the past. After witnessing her parents' long-term debt and feeling that her college education during the COVID-19 pandemic was "a waste of money," she chose to drop out in her senior year. "I loved college and don't regret going, but I regret the $20,000 in student loans."

Similar situations have also appeared in South Korea. The "Mud Spoon" generation, which has long faced high housing prices, debt pressure, and employment difficulties, views MEME as an opportunity for a comeback. A recent survey report by local institutions DeSpread and CoinNess targeting 3,108 South Korean cryptocurrency investors shows that after the cryptocurrency market rebounds in 2024, new investors entering the South Korean cryptocurrency market will account for about 33%. Although most South Korean investors are not familiar with DEX, the investment proportion in MEME coins has exceeded half, largely thanks to the active listing of such coins by CEX (centralized exchanges). For example, major South Korean exchanges like Bithumb and Upbit have listed popular MEME coins such as DOGE, TRUMP, PENGU, PEPE, and BONK.

Today, under the impetus of social media and the Trump administration's relaxation of regulations, this form of "entertainment hype" investment continues to heat up, including Trump himself attending a dinner this month specifically for millionaires holding TRUMP MEME coins.

From Satire to Rebellion: The Emotional Financial Narrative of MEME Coins

In the fast-paced digital world, MEME coins carry and convey complex emotional resonance and collective ideas in a minimalist and efficient manner. In the latest surge of meme trends, several popular MEME coins have rapidly resonated with Generation Z through heart-touching narratives. These MEME coins not only showcase strong narrative tension and high community engagement but also reflect the cultural rebellion of young Americans against systemic injustice and their expression of self-identity through encryption culture.

RFC

RFC was launched by the political satire account Retard Finder and quickly gained popularity due to Musk's frequent interactions. Its narrative is rooted in the rebellious spirit of internet meme culture, encouraging users to "report" foolish statements by tagging @IfindRetards, expressing skepticism towards mainstream narratives in a humorous way. The account's content mainly focuses on right-wing political satire, mocking immigration policies, environmentalism, and the "woke left." In a sense, RFC transcends being just a financial asset, evolving into a form of digital "cultural rebellion" against mainstream media and elite discourse.

GMGN data shows that within less than two months of its launch, RFC's market capitalization reached nearly $150 million.

House

"1 House = 1 Housecoin" is the iconic slogan of the MEME coin House on Solana, with its core narrative focusing on the worsening housing crisis globally, especially touching on the real difficulties faced by contemporary young people. Rising housing prices, stagnant income growth, and increasingly rigid class structures have led young people to feel the heavy pressure of being "unable to get on the property ladder." House uses an absurd yet straightforward narrative style to satirize the systemic injustice in the current real estate market, attracting a large number of young investors who are disappointed with the status quo and eager to express their attitudes.

GMGN data shows that as of May 6, the market value of House reached a high of 120 million USD within more than a month of its launch.

TROLL

TROLL originates from one of the most iconic memes in internet history, Trollface, which symbolizes the early internet's spirit of freedom, chaos, and anti-authoritarianism. It was created by artist Carlos Ramirez (online alias "Whynne") in 2008 and first appeared in his comic titled "Trolls," used to satirize internet "troll" behavior, becoming a classic symbol of online parody and humor. TROLL cleverly captures this retro sentiment, attracting young users familiar with meme history and passionate about internet subculture.

GMGN data shows that as of May 6, the market capitalization of TROLL is nearly 42 million USD.

neet

The term NEET originates from "Not in Education, Employment, or Training," used to describe young people aged 16-24 who are unemployed, not in education, or training. In Japan, this concept has been expanded to include the 15-34 age group who are not working, not studying, and not seeking employment, often associated with "otaku culture" or "hikikomori". The core narrative of $neet is a rebellion against traditional work and social norms, transforming this social phenomenon into an ironic cultural symbol that represents a lifestyle attitude of "lying flat" or "nepo baby," resonating with some young people's psychological sentiments under modern economic pressure.

GMGN data shows that since its launch at the end of April, the market cap of $neet has exceeded 21 million USD.

DRA

DRA is also a satirical expression focused on socio-economic issues, with its narrative centered around Decentralized Retirement Accounts, serving as a satirical response to traditional pension systems. It reflects the younger generation's distrust of the pension schemes in traditional financial systems, such as the 401K plan in the United States, and critiques the sentiment surrounding "pension scams."

GMGN data shows that since its launch on May 4th, DRA has reached a market capitalization of over $7.6 million.