Lately, there's been a lot of buzz in the crypto world about where the next major intellectual property (IP) powerhouse—like Disney—might emerge from. Traditional venture-backed attempts to create social media-born characters as influencers have mostly fallen flat. Why? Because centrally controlled accounts tend to limit creativity, squeezing characters into algorithmic boxes that prioritize reach over depth.

Think about it: what truly gives a character life? It's the soul, the backstory, the experiences that make them relatable and enduring. At Illusion of Life, they started with real-world grounding for characters like Spark Boink Boink. His social presence is just a peek into genuine adventures, not the whole story. This approach builds authenticity that's hard to fake.

But here's where memecoins enter the picture—and it's fascinating. Memecoins, those fun, often volatile crypto tokens inspired by internet memes, can sometimes evolve into something more. Most fizzle out quickly, lacking any real substance. Yet, outliers like Dogecoin persist because their communities inject energy, stories, and lore into them. Over time, the coin itself becomes a proto-character with its own history and cultural weight.

Imagine if this process was more deliberate. What if we shepherded the development of these memecoin characters, recording their "life events" and encouraging community participation? That's the kind of thinking that's bubbling up in the space right now.

Take $GIGANAKI as a fresh example. Recently, community member @Zypbro bought a cultural artifact tied to the project and gifted it back to the holders. Acts like this elevate the memecoin from just a token to a symbol of shared memories and identity. It's reminiscent of how Walt Disney used merchandise like Mickey Mouse keychains to extend his universe into the real world—something tangible that fans can hold onto.

Previous internet-native IP companies often missed this grounding element: real artifacts, vibrant communities, and evolving lore. Memecoins, powered by blockchain, naturally foster decentralization, letting the collective soul of participants shape the narrative. This isn't top-down control; it's organic growth.

Projects like Project 89, which is migrating to new platforms for better sustainability, show how these ideas are playing out. They're building flywheels where trading fees fund content creation, community building, and even non-profits focused on positive impact. It's a regenerative model: trades generate value that loops back to strengthen the ecosystem, attracting more participants and deepening the lore.

In essence, memecoins could be the breeding ground for the next Disney-level IPs. By blending crypto's financial incentives with community-driven storytelling, we're seeing characters emerge that live in people's imaginations—and wallets. It's bidirectional: the IP resides in the community, and in return, holders get to own a piece of it.

If you're diving into meme tokens, keep an eye on how lore and artifacts build lasting value. It's not just about pumps; it's about creating cultural icons that endure. What do you think—could your favorite memecoin become the Mickey Mouse of crypto? Check out the original thread here for more insights.