In the fast-paced world of meme coins, where fortunes can flip in hours, a recent X thread by ShockedJS is sparking conversations about the evolving landscape of trading. As the founder of Shocked, ShockedJS points out a noticeable widening in the skill gap between two types of traders: those who rely on manipulating low-market-cap tokens (often called "shitters" with around $50,000 market cap) and those who trade with real size and conviction.

Understanding the Skill Gap

ShockedJS kicks off the thread with: "The skill gap between people who only ever made $ because they were able to manipulate 50k MC shitters and people who can actually trade w/ size and conviction is widening noticeably and I'm here for it."

Here, "50k MC shitters" refers to meme tokens with tiny market capitalizations—basically, obscure projects where a small group can pump the price through coordinated buys or spam. Manipulation might involve "bonding," where traders artificially inflate volume to attract others. On the flip side, trading "with size and conviction" means putting significant capital (size) into positions based on strong belief (conviction) in the project's potential, rather than quick flips.

This shift is exciting because, as ShockedJS follows up, it's good news for smaller players: "This is also very beneficial for the smaller players who may not have built up size yet, things are actually going up for good reasons now - not just because xyz spammed the chart to bonding." In essence, quality projects are rising on merit, like solid communities, real utility, or organic hype, instead of shady tactics.

Community Reactions and Promotions

The thread drew quick responses from the meme coin community, with several users plugging their favorite projects as examples of "quality" amid this change. For instance, @SimeonBG123 highlighted CaptainBNB, a project that's been around for eight months with IP, products, and a resilient community. They encouraged grabbing a stake and building together, emphasizing its organic growth.

Others chimed in with visuals and calls to action. @peepzonsol shared a meme image capturing the chaos: "multi walleters in shambles as buyers flock to quality projects," poking fun at traders using multiple wallets for manipulation.

@1CrypTina suggested checking out $MOMO, positioning it as a potential top dog in the cycle, complete with a social dominance chart showing where it stands among giants like DOGE and PEPE.

Meanwhile, @Monstars_NFT urged studying conviction with $rarecoin, accompanied by a vibrant anime-style image of a character holding a glowing coin—symbolizing perhaps the "rare" finds in the market.

Even @trulyhumble00 agreed, noting how those sniping tiny launches at 10k MC are struggling, while skilled traders catch the big runners. And @The__Solstice dropped a classic Michael Jordan meme for emphasis.

What This Means for Meme Token Enthusiasts

This discussion underscores a maturing meme coin ecosystem, especially on chains like Solana, where hype meets real value. For blockchain practitioners and traders, it's a reminder to focus on fundamentals: research projects with strong communities, transparent teams, and genuine momentum. Tools like wallet trackers and chart analysis are great, but building conviction through due diligence separates the pros from the pump-and-dump crowd.

If you're diving into meme tokens, threads like this from influencers like ShockedJS offer valuable insights. Keep an eye on evolving strategies, and remember— in crypto, skill wins out over schemes in the long run. Stay informed with more updates on meme-insider.com.