Remember when people said social media was just a fad, something that would mature into serious journalism? Instead, traditional media started breaking news on Twitter and building stories around viral tweets. Well, crypto is following a similar path, and it's not the one you might expect.

In a recent thread on X, Akshay BD (@akshaybd) challenges the notion that crypto needs to "grow up" and become more like traditional finance (TradFi). He argues that it's actually TradFi that's shape-shifting to look more like crypto. This perspective is gold for anyone in the meme token space, as it highlights how the playful, volatile world of memes is influencing even the stuffiest corners of finance.

Let's break it down. Akshay starts by quoting his own post from back in 2024, drawing parallels between crypto and social media. Just as social media didn't sober up—instead pulling traditional media into its orbit—crypto isn't taming down with institutional adoption. Stocks like MicroStrategy (MSTR), Robinhood (HOOD), and Coinbase (COIN) are trading with crypto-like volatility, proving his point.

He lists out some eye-opening examples of TradFi's crypto makeover:

• BlackRock tokenizing treasuries, turning boring government bonds into blockchain assets.
• VanEck's X account featuring a penguin avatar—hello, meme culture!
• CME considering 24/7 trading, because why sleep when markets don't?
• Robinhood transforming equities into meme-stock casinos, where GameStop (GME) rallies feel like a Solana pump.
• Levered ETFs offering perpetual-like leverage, mimicking crypto derivatives.
• Private banks providing "self-custody" vaults for gold and art, echoing crypto wallets.
• SPACs and direct listings acting like pre-product token launches.
• Fractional shares solving cap table issues, basically functioning as tokens.

These shifts show that free markets evolve by embracing innovation, not stifling it. For meme token enthusiasts, this is validation. Meme coins like Dogecoin or newer Solana-based tokens thrive on community, virality, and speculation—elements now bleeding into TradFi.

Akshay follows up by referencing media history, quoting an older post where he used ChatGPT to explain why YouTube's competitors like Veoh and Blip.tv flopped. They tried to "professionalize" by chasing big deals and polished content, losing their grassroots appeal in the process. YouTube stuck with user-generated content (UGC) and creators, dominating the space.

The lesson? Media that tried to "grow up" died, while emergent, bottom-up platforms won. Crypto projects, especially meme tokens, succeed when they're organic and community-driven, not when they chase institutional polish.

Replies to the thread echo this sentiment. One user quips, "Expecting an industry full of misfits to cave in to the corporate mumbo jumbo is retarded." Another says it's a "great perspective, and true." And there's this gem: "Intern was right all along," paired with a meme image of an intern pitching to skeptical execs.

In the meme token world, this rings especially true. Tokens like PEPE or WIF didn't start with whitepapers and VC funding; they emerged from internet culture, memes, and hype. As TradFi adopts these traits—think meme stocks like AMC or the rise of fractional ownership—meme tokens gain legitimacy without losing their edge.

So, next time someone says crypto needs to mature, point them to this thread. The future of finance isn't about toning down the fun; it's about bringing the fun to everyone. For blockchain practitioners, this means leaning into community and innovation. Check out the original thread for the full scoop, and stay tuned to Meme Insider for more insights on how memes are reshaping finance.