In the fast-paced world of meme coins, where anything can go viral and turn into a tradable asset, sometimes things get a little too wild—even for industry insiders. Recently, Mert, the CEO of Helius (a leading Solana infrastructure provider), took to X to call out a bizarre incident involving a dating app screenshot that spiraled into a meme token launch.

For those new to the scene, meme coins are cryptocurrencies inspired by internet memes, jokes, or cultural phenomena. They're often launched on blockchains like Solana due to its low fees and high speed, making it easy for anyone to create and trade them. But as Mert points out, the line between fun and frenzy can blur quickly.

The drama started when someone posted a screenshot from a dating app featuring a woman's profile. Before you could swipe right, another user launched a "shitter"—crypto slang for a low-effort, speculative meme coin—based on that image. The original poster got upset, accusing the launcher of "stealing" their idea, even though it was just a screenshot. Then, in a twist, the accused "creator" tokenized the concept themselves, complete with the picture, linking back to the original, and it hit a modest $5K market cap.

Mert's reaction? A straightforward "what in the fuck are we doing here man." It's a sentiment that resonates with many in the community who watch these antics unfold daily.

The screenshot Mert referenced comes from a post by Jesse Pollak, head of Base (an Ethereum layer-2 network), who used it as an example of how memes get "stolen" and turned into coins. It shows a dating profile with the quirky prompt "Do you wanna get onchain?"—a play on crypto lingo for moving assets to blockchain. Someone then created a token around it, leading to accusations of theft and a mini-feud.

This isn't just idle gossip; it highlights bigger issues in the meme token ecosystem. On platforms like pump.fun, anyone can launch a token in minutes, often leading to rug pulls (where creators dump holdings on buyers) or ethical gray areas like using someone's likeness without permission. Solana's efficiency has fueled a boom in these tokens, with billions in trading volume, but it also amplifies the chaos.

Mert, known for his no-nonsense takes on Solana's growth, isn't alone in his frustration. Replies to his tweet ranged from legal concerns—pointing out potential privacy violations under EU or US laws—to jokes about the absurdity of it all. One user even quipped about "coining" tweets, while others debated whether Base or Solana is better for such shenanigans.

As blockchain practitioners, incidents like this remind us to approach meme tokens with caution. They're entertaining and can yield quick gains, but they're also rife with risks. If you're diving in, tools like Helius' APIs can help track on-chain activity, giving you an edge in spotting trends early.

What do you think—is this the peak of meme coin creativity, or a sign we need more guardrails? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned to Meme Insider for more updates on the wild side of crypto.