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Why Crypto Feels Broken: Snake Oil Salesmen vs. Legit Builders in the Meme Token World

Why Crypto Feels Broken: Snake Oil Salesmen vs. Legit Builders in the Meme Token World

In the wild world of crypto, where meme tokens can skyrocket overnight or crash just as fast, a recent thread on X (formerly Twitter) from @0xWives has sparked a heated discussion. The post highlights a frustrating reality: investors pour hundreds of millions into projects led by what he calls "snake oil salesmen," while dedicated teams grinding through the noise can't push their tokens past a $10 million market cap. It's a stark reminder of how broken the crypto space can feel, especially in the meme token niche where narrative often trumps tech.

The original post, shared on November 4, 2025, reads: "The amount of snake oil salesmen that people will give 100’s of millions of dollars to astonishes me. Meanwhile there are legit teams building through all the bull shit and their tokens never get above 10 mill marketcaps. Crypto really broken." You can check it out here.

This sentiment resonates deeply in the meme token community. Think about it—projects like Dogecoin or Shiba Inu started as jokes but ballooned into billion-dollar phenomena thanks to viral marketing and celebrity endorsements. Yet, countless innovative teams, perhaps working on AI-integrated DeFi solutions or community-driven utilities, languish in obscurity. Why? As one reply from @TasteKzn points out, "the main thing is marketing. People don't always care about the product, they care about how it is presented to them."

Another user, @warrenbuffed, echoes this: "yeah, some projects market themselves based on 0 fundamentals and some projects have huge fundamentals but 0 marketing." It's a classic imbalance. In meme tokens, where the value often stems from community hype rather than underlying tech, this gap is even more pronounced. Legit builders focus on code, audits, and real-world use cases, but without a slick marketing machine, they get drowned out by the noise.

Even @ogiberstein chimes in, noting it's not unique to crypto: "It's not just crypto tbh - same shit happens in tradfi and web2 just less visible." True enough—traditional finance has its share of overhyped stocks, and web2 startups often succeed on buzz alone. But in blockchain, the transparency (or lack thereof) amplifies the issue. Smart contracts are public, yet investors still flock to unvetted projects promising moonshots.

Replies like @everythingempt0's "we must chnage this" (typo and all) show a call for action, with @0xWives agreeing. Others mention specific projects, like @mlg360420 highlighting $INDEXY as a "great case in point" needing a reprice, or @spellcrypto asking about supporting $ANYONE. These shoutouts underscore how the community is actively seeking undervalued gems amid the chaos.

For blockchain practitioners diving into meme tokens, this thread is a wake-up call. Focus on fundamentals: look for teams with proven track records, transparent roadmaps, and engaged communities. Tools like CoinMarketCap or DexScreener can help spot low-cap tokens with potential. And remember, in a space dominated by AI-driven trading bots and DeFi protocols, blending tech with smart marketing could be the key to breaking that $10M ceiling.

As we at Meme Insider continue to track these trends, it's clear the crypto ecosystem needs more spotlight on the builders. If you're building or investing, prioritize substance over spectacle—it might just fix what's "broken."

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