In a recent tweet from CoinDesk, they spotlighted Phantom wallet as one of VanEck's top five builders pushing Solana to the forefront of the crypto world. The video segment, hosted by Jen Sanasie, breaks down how Phantom's sticky user experience—with folks opening the app an average of 12 times a day—is making waves. If you're into meme tokens, this is big news because Solana is the go-to chain for wild, community-driven coins, and tools like Phantom make trading them a breeze.

Let's unpack this. VanEck, a major player in investment management with their own Solana ETF, just dropped a report titled "Top 5 Builders Driving Solana's Dominance." VanEck's blog dives into how these projects are ramping up trading, liquidity, and real-world use on Solana. The lineup includes Pump.fun, Phantom, Helium, Drift, and Ellipsis Labs. For meme enthusiasts, Pump.fun and Phantom stand out as game-changers.

Why Phantom is a Meme Trader's Best Friend

Phantom is a self-custody wallet, meaning you hold your own keys—no middleman holding your funds. But it's more than just storage; it's like a mini-browser for everything on-chain. Users can swap tokens, trade NFTs, and dive into DeFi right inside the app. According to VanEck, Phantom boasts 3 million monthly active users who've executed over 200 million swaps worth $38 billion this year alone.

That 12 opens-per-day stat? It shows how addictive the Solana ecosystem is, especially for meme token flips. Think about it: you're checking pump.fun launches, sniping new memes, or staking your SOL—all without clunky interfaces. Phantom's revenue comes from these embedded features, like in-app swaps, which peaked earlier this year as shown in CoinDesk's chart.

Looking ahead, keep an eye on "actions and blinks." These are shareable widgets that let you trade an NFT or tip a creator straight from your social feed, like X (formerly Twitter), without switching apps. For meme communities, this could mean seamless viral token launches and airdrops. Phantom's also adding embedded payments and identity tools, making it even easier for newbies to jump into Solana's meme scene without getting scammed or lost in the weeds.

Pump.fun: The Meme Token Launchpad Revolution

If Phantom is the gateway, Pump.fun is the factory churning out meme tokens. This platform lets anyone create and launch a token in minutes, turning ideas into tradable assets with fair launches—no presales or team allocations that often lead to rugs. VanEck notes Pump.fun is nearing $900 million in lifetime revenue, with a record $6 million fee day. That's insane for a project that's basically democratized meme coin creation.

On Solana, where low fees and high speeds make micro-trades viable, Pump.fun has exploded the number of creator-coins (fancy term for memes). It's driving massive DEX volume—$1.4 trillion year-to-date on Solana exchanges. For blockchain practitioners, this means more liquidity and opportunities, but also a reminder to DYOR (do your own research) amid the hype.

The Other Builders Boosting Solana

• Helium: Building decentralized wireless networks, like 5G hotspots. They migrated to Solana in 2023, using tech to mint nearly 1 million NFTs cheaply. This real-world infra could support IoT devices tied to meme projects or community events.
• Drift: A decentralized exchange for perpetual futures, adding sophisticated trading tools that meme degens might use for leveraged bets on their favorites.
• Ellipsis Labs: Focused on liquidity provision, making sure trades execute smoothly even during meme pumps.

Together, these builders are why Solana's seeing 70 million daily transactions and leading in new developer growth, per reports like Electric Capital's.

What This Means for Meme Tokens

Solana's dominance isn't just about speed; it's the ecosystem making crypto fun and accessible. With VanEck's stamp of approval, expect more institutional eyes on SOL and its memes. At the time of the CoinDesk video, SOL was trading at $137, up 3.4%—a sign of bullish momentum.

If you're building or trading in the meme space, tools like Phantom and platforms like Pump.fun are essential. They lower barriers, boost engagement, and keep the vibes high. Stay tuned to Meme Insider for more on how these developments shape the next wave of meme tokens.

Check out the original CoinDesk tweet and video here for the full "Chart of the Day" breakdown.