In the fast-paced world of cryptocurrency, especially meme coins, things move at lightning speed. A recent tweet from David 🏹 (@d_gilz) captures this perfectly: "Every 6 months or so there’s a new multi-billion dollar opportunity because the incumbents get rich and then completely coast off their success into irrelevancy." This observation, posted on September 8, 2025, has sparked discussions among crypto enthusiasts about the cyclical nature of opportunities in the meme token ecosystem.

What David is pointing out is a common pattern in not just crypto, but many innovative industries. Incumbents—those established players who dominated early on—often reach a point where they've made their fortunes and start to slack off. In meme coins, this means the hype dies down, innovation stalls, and community engagement wanes. That's when the door opens for new projects to swoop in and capture the market's attention, potentially turning into the next big thing worth billions.

The Incumbent Trap in Meme Coins

Take Dogecoin (DOGE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB) as prime examples. DOGE started as a joke in 2013, inspired by the famous Shiba Inu dog meme. It exploded in popularity thanks to endorsements from figures like Elon Musk, reaching a market cap over $80 billion at its peak. SHIB followed suit in 2020, positioning itself as the "Dogecoin killer" and hitting a $40 billion market cap. These tokens made early investors incredibly wealthy, but over time, their development slowed. Updates became infrequent, and the initial viral energy faded. They're still around, but they're not the white-hot centers of innovation they once were.

This complacency creates vacuums. New meme coins emerge with fresh narratives, stronger communities, or better tech integrations, often on faster blockchains like Solana or Base. Every six months or so, as David notes, a new contender rises, fueled by social media buzz, celebrity nods, or clever marketing. It's a reminder that in crypto, resting on your laurels can lead straight to irrelevancy.

Community Reactions and Emerging Contenders

The tweet garnered quick responses, highlighting how the community sees this playing out. One user asked, "who do you think is the next one to get lazy and lose their spot?" Others chimed in with thoughts on innovation and disruption. Notably, a reply from Rev Run (@JLKHatesYou) shared a intriguing poster, teasing a new opportunity:

The poster reads: "YOU MISSED DOGE. YOU MISSED SHIB. If you had another chance to invest early, would you take it? DON'T MISS SAN. The best opportunities come in threes." This is a clear nod to San Chan ($SAN), a emerging Shiba Inu-themed meme coin on Solana that's positioning itself as the next in line.

Another reply simply stated "San chan," while others talked about playing "CARDS right"—possibly alluding to other meme projects or strategies. These interactions show how quickly the conversation shifts to spotting the next big play.

Spotlight on San Chan: The Next Wave?

San Chan ($SAN) is a charity-focused meme token inspired by the Shiba Inu breed, with a Japanese twist—"San Chan" roughly translates to "Mr./Ms. Three" in a cute, affectionate way. Launched on the Solana blockchain, it aims to combine viral meme appeal with real-world impact, donating to animal welfare causes. As of September 2025, its market cap hovers around $14 million, with a price around $0.014, according to data from CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko. It's still early days, but the project's official site (sanchan.live) emphasizes building a positive community and avoiding the pitfalls of its predecessors.

Is San Chan the next multi-billion dollar hit? It's too soon to say, but it exemplifies David's point: while DOGE and SHIB coast, newcomers like this are hustling to fill the gap. For blockchain practitioners, this underscores the importance of staying vigilant—monitoring social media, joining communities early, and diversifying into promising upstarts.

Lessons for Meme Token Enthusiasts

If you're in the meme coin game, here's the takeaway: opportunities don't last forever. Incumbents' success can breed laziness, but that just means more room for agile players. Keep an eye on trends, engage with threads like this one on X, and remember that the crypto world rewards those who adapt quickly. Whether it's San Chan or the next big meme, the cycle continues—every six months, a new door opens.

Stay tuned to Meme Insider for more insights on emerging tokens and how to navigate this wild space. What's your take on the next big opportunity? Drop a comment below!