Meme Coins Now the Top Gateway to Crypto, Gemini’s 2025 Report Finds

Gemini’s 2025 report reveals that over 30% of crypto newcomers start with meme coins. This crypto sector, amid rising institutional interest, paves the way to Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and ETFs (exchange-traded funds).

Recently, crypto experts revealed key considerations before venturing into meme coins.

Meme Coins’ Cultural Appeal Meets Institutional Adoption

According to Gemini’s State of Crypto 2025 report, meme coins have emerged as the entry point for new crypto users. 

The study sampled responses from 7,205 consumers across six countries. It reveals that over 30% of first-time crypto buyers in the US, UK, Australia, and other regions begin their journey with meme coins, assets long dismissed as speculative novelties.

“In the US, 31% of investors who own both meme coins and traditional cryptocurrencies report that they purchased their meme coins first, followed by 30% in Australia, 28% in the UK, 23% in Singapore, 22% in Italy, and 19% in France,” read an excerpt in the report.

From being fleeting trends, meme coins now play a pivotal educational role. They act as “training wheels” for users to learn about wallets, tokenomics, and on-chain interactions.

Gemini’s data shows that over 94% of meme coin holders eventually invest in more established cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, reinforcing their role as a critical onramp to the broader digital asset ecosystem.

“Globally, 94% of meme coin owners also own other types of crypto, suggesting meme coins are an on-ramp to broader crypto investments,” the report added. 

Meme coins ownership and other cryptocurrencies. Source: Gemini 2025 trends report

The meme coin trend in the US intersects with rising institutional access, as 39% of US crypto investors now hold crypto through ETFs. This suggests a maturing market where grassroots enthusiasm and institutional infrastructure are converging.

Through online communities and viral content, meme coins offer a culturally relevant, low-barrier introduction to crypto. They lower participation thresholds and democratize digital asset ownership.

US Investors Blend Meme Coins, ETFs, and Politics in a Maturing Market

According to data on Coingecko, meme coins have reached a combined market capitalization of $74.4 billion, underlining their growing impact. 

Meme Coins Market Capitalization. Source: CoinGecko

What began as internet jokes now represents a meaningful segment of the crypto market.

According to the Gemini report, this asset class has transcended in parallel with major trends like the rise of spot Bitcoin ETFs and expanding institutional participation.

The report also reflects the influence of political tailwinds, particularly from President Donald Trump’s pro-crypto statements and his proposal for a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. 

These developments, alongside regulatory approvals for ETFs, have accelerated mainstream adoption and legitimized the space for a broader investor base.

While meme coins are a popular starting point, long-term investment stability lies in assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum. This highlights the importance of transitioning from speculative entry points to fundamentally sound assets. 

“Technically innovative launches are getting hype again…It’s not just your Degen monkey brain blindly aping into meme coins or simping for a new Celeb Coin – your analytical & research skills can be put to action again,” DeFi expert Ignas shared recently.

BeInCrypto recently reported on what experts consider before investing in meme coins.

Among them is Justin Sun, founder of Tron blockchain and Huobi Global advisor. The controversial crypto executive prioritizes a meme coin’s ability to capture public attention before investing.

“Today’s economy is about attention. So memes actually capture all the attention, right? If you get attention from everybody, you can actually control the universe,” Sun emphasized.

Sun also evaluates genuine community engagement in meme coin investments instead of focusing on follower counts.

According to Justin Sun, meme coin success requires significant effort, similar to developing major crypto platforms.