Meme Coin on TON: Exciting Opportunity or Risky Business?

Memecoin is booming on The Open Network (TON), but before you jump in, you need to be cautious and understand this crypto landscape clearly. TON is a blockchain developed by Telegram, designed for fast transactions with extremely low fees—ideal not only for memecoins but also for over 900 other decentralized applications. However, this very feature also makes TON a “paradise” for memecoin projects, including some high-risk ones.

Why is TON Becoming a Meme Coin Playground (and Potential Traps)?

Memecoins—digital currencies whose value stems from community and trends rather than technology—have previously exploded on Solana and Ethereum. Now, they are rapidly flooding onto TON. The total market cap of memecoins within the TON ecosystem approaches $100 million, with about 48 projects listed on CoinGecko.

Why? TON offers several strong technical advantages:

• High speed and ultra-low fees: TON processes over 100,000 transactions per second with an average gas fee of just 0.0055 TON (~$0.03). Perfect for memecoins—assets with high trading volume but low per-unit value.

• Tight integration with Telegram: With nearly 1 billion Telegram users, memecoin projects can easily reach a vast potential audience. Crypto games on Telegram like Notcoin, Hamster Kombat, TapSwap have significantly contributed to TON adoption.

• Active development support: TON launched Memelandia—a cultural hub providing no-code tools for creating memecoins, marketing solutions, and leaderboards (Ton Online Leaderboard). This inadvertently makes it easier for anyone to launch a memecoin, regardless of intent.

But here’s the problem: when everything becomes easy, risks also increase. So, you need to be cautious.

Top Meme Coins on TON – Must-Know List (with Warnings)

Povel Durev (DUREV)

DUREV is a humorous memecoin named after Pavel Durov—founder of Telegram. The project focuses on community building through funny content and interaction.

Current Data (updated 2026-02-20):

• 24h trading volume: $8.87K
• Circulating market cap: $450.97K

Caution: DUREV has a relatively low market cap, increasing the risk of pump-and-dump schemes. Low liquidity also means you might get stuck if you want to sell quickly.

Resistance Dog (REDO)

REDO was created to honor Pavel Durov’s commitment to digital freedom and anti-censorship. This token acts as a symbol of resistance with a relatively strong user base.

Current Data:

• 24h trading volume: $9.38K
• Circulating market cap: $3.43M

Caution: REDO has a higher market cap than DUREV but remains small in the broader crypto market. Its popularity heavily depends on social media hype and viral campaigns.

TON FISH MEMECOIN (FISH)

FISH claims to be the first “non-foundation social” memecoin, aiming to introduce new users to TON through fun approaches. It’s a community token with regular airdrops and engagement events.

Risk note: Its community structure can be manipulated by whales (large holders) or organized groups to influence prices.

The Resistance Cat (RECA)

RECA is inspired by a protective cat image, built as a community-led project. Its goal is to ensure transparency and safety.

Caution: Data shows very low market cap and trading volume (~$530K), indicating extremely high risk.

Shitcoin on TON (SHIT)

The name is straightforward: SHIT is a humorous memecoin built to accept the “absurdity” of the crypto world. It functions as a community token with events and marketing campaigns.

Most obvious risk: The name and branding may attract unprofessional investors who might not understand the real risks.

Ton Inu (TINU)

Launched in early 2024, TINU features token scanner and automatic buy bots on Telegram. While useful, these tools can also be used for market manipulation.

Latest data: Price around $0.0011 USD, circulating cap about $1.1M.

Warning: Total supply is 1 billion TINU, all in circulation. No burn mechanism exists to support the price. Any “price improvement” relies solely on hype.

Toon of Meme (TOME)

TOME combines humor with decentralized storage and blockchain trading. Designed to appeal to meme lovers seeking interesting investments.

Warning: Despite promising “fun features,” its actual utility remains unproven.

Gentleman (MAN)

Inspired by Telegram’s iconic character, designed by Telegram’s Creative Director in 2014. Focuses on community building through nostalgia.

Current Data:

• 24h trading volume: $8.81K
• Circulating market cap: $689.33K

Potential risk: Despite Telegram ties, MAN remains a small-cap memecoin with high risk.

Tonald Trump (TONALD)

Based on the controversial political figure Donald Trump, this project emphasizes community interaction through lively discussions.

Historical data: Market cap around $2.4M, with an all-time high of $0.01158 USD in June 2024.

Most obvious risk: Political-themed memecoins are highly susceptible to news and public sentiment swings. Prices can fluctuate wildly with minor news.

Hedgehog in the Fog (HIF)

Inspired by a character from a Soviet animated film, HIF is a unique memecoin focused on building a “magical” community for meme enthusiasts.

Historical data: Total supply 200 million HIF, all in circulation. ATH was $0.03935 USD in June 2024, currently trading around $0.0077 USD.

Standard warning: HIF has lost about 80% of its peak value. Are you prepared to accept similar losses?

Caution: Real Risks When Buying Meme Coins on TON

Here are the most common pitfalls:

1. Rugpull Risk
Developers create a memecoin, attract users, then suddenly disappear with the funds. TON’s low barriers (easy entry) make this more likely.

2. Liquidity Shortage Risk
Despite low fees, if a memecoin lacks sufficient liquidity, you might be unable to sell.

3. Whale Manipulation
Large holders can easily manipulate prices of small-cap memecoins.

4. Hype, Not Value
Memecoins lack real utility. Their prices are driven solely by hype and community sentiment. Once hype fades, the price can collapse.

5. Psychological Pressure – FOMO
Seeing a memecoin surge might trigger FOMO, leading to impulsive investments without proper research.

Managing Risks: 5 Essential Steps

Step 1: Diversify Your Portfolio
Never put all your money into a single memecoin. Spread risk across multiple tokens and chains.

Step 2: Conduct Due Diligence
Before investing:

• Check if the development team is transparent
• Review project history
• Read whitepapers (if available)
• Search on CoinMarketCap, CoinGecko, and analysis sites

Step 3: Set Stop-Loss Orders
Determine the maximum loss you’re willing to accept (e.g., 30-50%) and set automatic sell orders accordingly.

Step 4: Use Proper Analytical Tools

• CoinGecko & CoinMarketCap for price trends
• DappRadar & DeFi Pulse for on-chain activity
• On-chain explorers for transaction analysis

Step 5: Engage with Communities, But Be Cautious
Join Telegram, Twitter, Reddit for updates. But beware: some communities are manipulated by rumors and fake hype.

Conclusion: Memecoin on TON—Opportunity or Trap?

Memecoin on TON combines humor, community participation, and high profit potential. TON offers an excellent platform with low fees, high speed, and Telegram integration. Prominent memecoins like HIF, TONALD, MAN showcase the diversity of this market.

However, be cautious. Memecoins are highly volatile assets with no real utility and are prone to manipulation. Rugpulls, liquidity drains, and hype-driven bubbles are real dangers.

If you choose to participate:

• Only invest what you can afford to lose
• Always do your due diligence
• Diversify your holdings
• Set clear stop-loss limits
• Avoid FOMO-driven decisions

Memecoin isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme—it’s a way to join the community with high risks. So, be cautious and think carefully before jumping in.