The crypto world never sleeps, and neither do the insights pouring in from industry experts. A recent tweet from Rick (@scopicview), one of the authors behind the Crypto Investor Survey, caught our eye here at Meme Insider. It sheds light on how crypto funds performed in September 2025, and teases some intriguing questions about October's wild ride. Let's break it down in simple terms and see what it means for meme token enthusiasts like you.

What is the Crypto Investor Survey?

If you're new to this, the Crypto Investor Survey is a monthly deep dive into crypto fund performance, put together by Presto Research in partnership with Otos Data. It's like a report card for various crypto investment strategies, covering everything from liquid funds (which are flexible, market-responsive portfolios) to funds of funds (FoFs), which invest in other funds for diversification. The survey analyzes macro trends, performance benchmarks, and investor sentiments, making it a go-to resource for blockchain practitioners looking to stay ahead.

The September 2025 edition, authored by @scopicview and @baileyayork, continues this tradition by highlighting key metrics up to the end of September. You can check out similar past reports, like the August 2025 edition, for more context on how the market has been evolving.

Key Performance Highlights from September

In his tweet, @scopicview noted that liquid funds posted a modest gain of +0.89% in September, bringing their year-to-date (YTD) return to 10.34%. That sounds okay on the surface, but here's the kicker: nearly all crypto benchmarks (standard measures of performance) underperformed the S&P 500 (often called SPX, a major stock market index) this year, except for FoFs. And every single one lagged behind the Nasdaq, which is tech-heavy and includes big names like Apple and Tesla.

To put it plainly, while traditional markets like stocks have been chugging along with solid gains, crypto funds haven't kept pace. This underperformance could stem from the sector's inherent volatility—crypto prices swing wildly based on news, regulations, and sentiment, unlike more stable stock indices.

The tweet also references a chart (likely from the survey) showing performance trends, but the big takeaway is clear: crypto investors might need to rethink strategies if they want to match or beat mainstream markets.

The October Shake-Up: Record-Breaking Liquidations

@scopicview ends his post with a forward-looking note: "Interested to see how October will be given the 'worst liquidations in crypto history'..." Boy, was that prescient—or perhaps timed perfectly after the fact. Early October 2025 saw the crypto market endure its most brutal liquidation event ever, with over $19 billion in leveraged positions wiped out in hours.

Liquidations happen when traders using borrowed money (leverage) get forced to sell assets because prices drop too far, amplifying losses. According to reports from Yahoo Finance and Reuters, Bitcoin plummeted from around $122,000 to $105,000, Ether dropped 12%, and altcoins took even bigger hits. Macro factors like U.S.-China trade tensions and a broader stock market dip fueled the chaos, turning "Pumptober" (a usually bullish month for crypto) into a nightmare.

This event, dubbed a "flash crash" by analysts at CCN, erased weeks of gains and highlighted the risks of over-leveraged trading.

How Does This Impact Meme Tokens?

At Meme Insider, we're all about meme tokens—the fun, community-driven coins that can skyrocket on hype but crash just as fast. The September survey and October liquidations hit close to home because meme tokens often thrive (or die) in volatile environments.

Low-cap meme tokens were particularly hammered during the crash, with many pushed to near-zero values due to cascading liquidations, as noted in Cryptodnes. These smaller projects lack the liquidity and community support to weather storms, making them high-risk plays.

On the brighter side, top meme coins showed resilience:

• Dogecoin (DOGE)​: Trading around $0.204, down about 4% post-crash but still a heavyweight thanks to its loyal fanbase.
• Shiba Inu (SHIB)​: At $0.0000124, it dipped 2.2% but remains a favorite for its ecosystem developments.
• Pepe (PEPE)​: Holding at $0.0000080, this frog-themed token weathered the storm better than most alts.
• Others like BONK and WIF: These Solana-based memes saw volatility but bounced back quickly, as highlighted in Binance Square.

The survey's underperformance data suggests that even professional crypto funds are struggling, which could signal tougher times for retail-driven meme tokens. However, it also opens opportunities: as traditional markets outperform, savvy investors might rotate into meme tokens during recoveries, betting on viral narratives.

Looking Ahead: Lessons for Blockchain Practitioners

The Crypto Investor Survey reminds us that knowledge is power in this space. For meme token creators and investors, focus on building strong communities, managing leverage wisely, and diversifying beyond pure speculation. Keep an eye on macro trends—like those U.S. tariffs mentioned in CoinDesk—as they can trigger crypto events.

If you're diving deeper, explore Presto Research's other reports, such as their State of Adoption: September 2025, for more on protocol fees and market activity.

Stay tuned to Meme Insider for more updates on how these trends shape the meme token landscape. What's your take on the October crash—opportunity or warning? Drop your thoughts in the comments!