Crypto
Investing in meme coins: Key strategies from Giottus co-founder Arjun Vijay
The concept of cryptocurrencies began in 2009 with the release of Bitcoin by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin’s decentralised nature and its potential for facilitating global transactions without a central authority revolutionised the financial world. This paved the way for other blockchain-based platforms like Ethereum, Solana, and Tron, which support decentralised applications (dApps).
In 2013, the idea of a humorous cryptocurrency emerged, leading to the creation of Dogecoin. This coin, inspired by a popular dog meme, started as a joke but quickly gained traction. Its success opened the floodgates for a plethora of other meme coins, such as Shiba Inu, Pepe, and Bonk, each leveraging playful themes and vibrant community engagement.
What sets meme coins apart?
Unlike traditional cryptocurrencies, which often offer some form of utility — whether as a medium of exchange, a platform for smart contracts, or a tool for decentralised finance — meme coins primarily exist for entertainment. They are digital collectibles, much like Pokemon cards or stickers, and their value is largely driven by community sentiment and social media buzz.
The strength of a meme coin is directly tied to the fervour and size of its community. Enthusiastic supporters, such as the Shiba Army or Doge Army, actively promote their favourite coins, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of demand and hype. This community-driven dynamic makes meme coins unique but also highly volatile.
Navigating the meme coin market
Investing in meme coins requires a different approach compared to traditional assets. Here are some expert tips to help you navigate this unpredictable market:Community Analysis: A strong and active community is a key indicator of a meme coin’s potential. Assess the number of holders, the level of social media engagement, and the overall sentiment. Platforms like CoinMarketCap and Birdbird.so can provide valuable insights into these metrics.
Entry and Exit Strategies: Timing is crucial in the meme coin market. Historical patterns suggest that cryptocurrency bull markets often coincide with Bitcoin halving events. Prices typically rise significantly before halving, lifting meme coins and altcoins. However, prices may reverse and crash about a year after halving. Planning your exit before the bull run ends can help protect your gains.
Diversification and Risk Management: Limit your overall investment in meme coins to a small percentage of your portfolio. Start with 1-2% of your total wealth and increase to 5% as you gain more understanding and confidence. Within this allocation, diversify across multiple meme coins to spread the risk.
Profit-Taking Strategy: Regularly book profits to lock in gains and mitigate losses during downturns. Monitor market cap, trading volume, and signs of weakness or large sell-offs by major holders.
Tools for tracking and investing
There are several tools and platforms available to help investors track and identify promising meme coins. Birdbird.so, for instance, categorises different ecosystems like Solana, Sui, Ethereum, BNB Chain, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Polygon, and Avalanche. It provides insights into trending tokens, trading volumes, and the performance of various coins over the past week. This information can help investors shortlist potential meme coins and make informed investment decisions.
Final thoughts
Investing in meme coins is akin to buying a lottery ticket. It’s a high-risk game that requires careful planning and a clear strategy. While the potential for significant returns exists, so does the risk of substantial losses. By understanding the unique dynamics of meme coins, analysing community strength, timing your investments, and diversifying your portfolio, you can better navigate this volatile market.
Always remember to limit your exposure in meme coins and maintain a diversified investment portfolio to mitigate risks. Keep your meme coin trades separate from other investments and have a strict stop-loss plan in place. By combining technical analysis, fundamental analysis, and market sentiment, you can make more informed and strategic investment decisions in the world of meme coins.
(This article is based on insights shared by Arjun Vijay, Co-Founder & COO of Giottus, during an ETMarkets live stream)
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)
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Crypto
British Airline Jet2 Shares Jump 9% After $536M Fuel Hedge Gain Offsets Middle East Travel Fears
Key Takeaways
- Jet2 recorded a $536 million balance sheet windfall on July 8 after locking in low-cost fuel derivatives.
- The Middle East conflict triggered a 67% decline in annual cash inflows as travelers delayed holiday bookings.
- CEO Steve Heapy announced a $335 million buyback program and expanding operations at London Gatwick Airport.
Sector Resilience Amid Fuel Volatility
British airline and package holiday provider Jet2 defied intense geopolitical instability and travel sector panic triggered by the Middle East war by reporting a more than $500 million balance sheet boost, fueled by the rising price of jet fuel.
As the conflict in the Middle East escalated, spiking fuel rates caused the value of the company’s fuel derivatives to soar. According to Jet2’s full financial results released July 8, an extra $536 million in income was primarily driven by these favorable fair value movements.
The financial buffer comes after widespread fears earlier this year that rising energy costs could push airlines into bankruptcy and force massive summer holiday cancellations. In the United States, higher fuel prices contributed to the collapse of low-budget airline Spirit in May. The United Kingdom had been labeled as the nation “most exposed” to the jet fuel crisis, forcing government ministers to scramble to protect airline fuel access and temporarily suspend airport capacity rules.
While Jet2 was able to mitigate the price shock, the broader conflict still took a toll on booking behaviors. The airline conceded that ongoing travel uncertainty from the war caused holidaymakers to delay their trips and book much closer to their departure dates than usual. As a result, Jet2’s cash inflow plummeted by 67% to approximately $103 million for the fiscal year ending March 31.
Financially, Jet2 reported mixed full-year results. Group revenue climbed 4% to $10.05 billion, but pre-tax profit slipped 7% to $738.6 million, hit hard by lower income earned on its cash deposits.
Despite the profit dip, operational metrics showed strong consumer demand. Jet2 increased its total seat capacity by 8% to 24 million and flew 20.8 million passengers — a 5% increase year-over-year. The company also announced a new $335 million share buyback program, pointing to robust liquidity and confidence in its midterm outlook.
On the stock market, shares of the AIM-listed company jumped 9% to $19.92 at Wednesday’s opening bell, leaving the stock up 5% for the year.
Chief Executive Issues Tax Warning
The financial report coincided with an aggressive political warning from Jet2 Chief Executive Steve Heapy. Speaking to shareholders, Heapy cautioned political figures — specifically naming prominent politician Andy Burnham — against treating the aviation and holiday industry as a “cash cow.”
Burnham is widely anticipated to enter Downing Street later this month following recent political shifts.
“Don’t treat the aviation or holiday industry as a cash cow, because taxes increase the price of flying,” Heapy said, pointing out that Jet2 had to absorb $67 million in additional regulatory and tax costs over the last year. “I think, you know, enough is enough.”
Operationally, Jet2 is pushing a major expansion strategy designed to challenge the UK’s dominant legacy carriers. In March, the airline launched a six-aircraft hub at London Gatwick Airport, signaling an aggressive move out of its traditional northern England strongholds. The company notes it now operates within a 90-minute drive of more than 90% of the UK population.
Key Takeaways
- LAB token cratered 90% over 48 hours, wiping out billions in market cap.
- ZachXBT slammed top centralized exchanges for failing to halt the July manipulation.
- Investors surged to avoid trading LAB as team token unlocks are set for later in July 2026.
LAB Trade Blames ‘Large Market Participants’
LAB, the native token of the multi-chain trading platform LAB Trade, suffered a catastrophic collapse this week, plunging from just over $7 to $1.25 on Wednesday—a staggering 80% decline in under 24 hours. This crash followed an equally brutal sell-off on Tuesday, which saw the token slide from nearly $17. In total, LAB wiped out nearly 90% of its value in just 48 hours.
The financial fallout was swift: a market capitalization that exceeded $5 billion on Tuesday morning evaporated to just $390 million by 3:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday. The freefall prompted the LAB Trade team to address the panic on X, where they expressed disappointment and deflected blame toward external heavy-sellers:
“While today’s market activity is disappointing, our product roadmap and long-term focus remain unchanged. We’re seeing significant selling pressure from large market participants. Several independent trading firms also hold substantial LAB positions that are not affiliated with our team. We’re working closely with our liquidity partners and continue to monitor market conditions,” the team said on X.
With this crash, LAB joins a notorious lineup of volatile tokens, such as RAVE, RIVER and SIREN. Each of these projects experienced meteoric rises followed by near-instantaneous erasures, sparking widespread “pump-and-dump” allegations against their respective teams and murky distribution networks.
Crypto Sleuth Slams Centralized Exchanges
Prominent on-chain detective ZachXBT, who previously flagged suspicious insider loans and market-maker coordination back in May, blasted major centralized exchanges ( CEXs) for failing to protect retail investors. Taking to X, ZachXBT criticized the lack of proactive intervention:
“Disappointing to see how no action was taken by Binance, Bitget, and Gate earlier to prevent it. If CEXs cared, profits from the accounts manipulating the price would be distributed to users at a minimum. Unlocks for investors were scheduled to begin later this month, however, multiple late vesting changes occurred in the past.”
ZachXBT reiterated his previous warnings that insiders have effectively controlled the entire circulating supply, allowing market makers to orchestrate extreme price manipulation on major exchanges. His final advice to the community was blunt: avoid trading LAB under any circumstances.
ZachXBT Names RAVE, RIVER, SIREN, and LAB as Victims of Bitget-Enabled Market Maker Fraud
Blockchain investigator ZachXBT has renewed his assault on Bitget, accusing the exchange of knowingly enabling market makers to run supply…
ZachXBT Names RAVE, RIVER, SIREN, and LAB as Victims of Bitget-Enabled Market Maker Fraud
Blockchain investigator ZachXBT has renewed his assault on Bitget, accusing the exchange of knowingly enabling market makers to run supply…
ZachXBT Names RAVE, RIVER, SIREN, and LAB as Victims of Bitget-Enabled Market Maker Fraud
Blockchain investigator ZachXBT has renewed his assault on Bitget, accusing the exchange of knowingly enabling market makers to run supply…
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