1 Type of Cryptocurrency to Avoid at All Costs in 2026

Key Points

• Meme coins are popular because of the potential for life-changing returns.

• But only a tiny fraction of meme coins have any success, and finding them is mostly a matter of luck.

• 10 stocks we like better than Dogecoin ›

The crypto market is massive, and there are many different types of cryptocurrencies you can buy. Ethereum and Solana are smart contract platforms, and XRP is a payments coin, among others. Bitcoin is so large that it has effectively created its own category.

You may want to invest in several types to build a diverse crypto portfolio, and with most of the market going through a downturn, now is a good time to buy the dip. However, you’re better off avoiding one popular type of cryptocurrency: meme coins.

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A meme coin is any cryptocurrency that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE) was the first, and it was based on the popular “Doge” meme. Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: SHIB), another popular meme coin, based its dog-themed image on Dogecoin — originality isn’t required in this space.

Apart from a fun marketing theme, the appeal of meme coins is that when they take off, they can deliver life-changing returns. Dogecoin increased by over 27,000% in a six-month span from November 2020 to May 2021. Shiba Inu increased by over 70,000,000% over the first 10 months of 2021.

However, reliably finding meme coins that are going to explode is next to impossible. There are thousands of them already, and platforms like Pump.fun allow anyone to launch their own meme coins in less than a minute. Only a very small percentage of meme coins achieve any success, and when they do, it rarely lasts long. For example, after Dogecoin reached its all-time high in May 2021, it lost over half its peak value in a matter of weeks.

The best cryptocurrency investments have legitimate use cases. Meme coins are much more similar to gambling than investing, which is why they don’t deserve a place in your portfolio.

Should you buy stock in Dogecoin right now?

Before you buy stock in Dogecoin, consider this:

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Lyle Daly has positions in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.