Chris Burniske predicts bigger role for memecoins this cycle

Venture capitalist and crypto veteran Chris Burniske has shared his outlook, predicting that memecoins could play a larger role in the current cryptocurrency cycle than previously anticipated. 

According to Burniske, memecoins have the potential to drive significant interest and engagement, much like NFTs did during their peak in 2021. 

Speaking on social media platform X, Burniske noted, “The cultural relevance some NFT collections garnered in 2021 will be surpassed by some memecoins. Not here to endorse a horse, but the trend is clear.” 

His statement suggests that memecoins could dominate the cultural landscape in the crypto space, outshining the impact NFTs had in the past cycle. 

While Burniske acknowledges memecoins’ growing prominence, he remains optimistic about NFTs, particularly those emphasising art and creativity rather than speculative value. 

He expressed that the NFT space is heading toward a "renaissance" period, where creators and builders will focus on niche communities and bring more meaning to digital ownership. 

He believes that this shift will help align creators and consumers with shared values, strengthening the digital tribes they form.

Burniske also highlighted the broader maturation of the crypto ecosystem. 

He pointed to favorable financial conditions, ongoing experimentation with decentralised applications, and consistent user growth as key factors driving the asset class forward. 

Burniske added, “It’s not just favorable rates and liquidity that are promising for our asset class, it’s maturation of the infrastructure, builder experimentation with apps, and continued user growth with active addresses >3x’ing in the last year.”