Wilson Cusack, known for his work on the Base blockchain, recently shared some intriguing thoughts on meme coins in an X thread. He captures that familiar feeling many traders have: there's something undeniably fun about meme coins, with a core idea that could potentially lead to explosive 1000x returns. But, as he points out, a lot needs to change to get there. The key? Injecting more "substance" into these tokens.

For those new to the term, meme coins are cryptocurrencies inspired by internet memes, often starting as jokes but sometimes gaining massive traction through community hype. Think Dogecoin or Shiba Inu – they're volatile, exciting, but often lack deeper utility.

Cusack highlights prediction markets, content coins, and creator coins as promising directions. Prediction markets allow users to bet on real-world outcomes, like election results or sports games, using crypto. Platforms like Polymarket are already making waves here. Content coins tie value to digital content, perhaps rewarding creators or holders based on engagement. Creator coins, similarly, let influencers or artists monetize their personal brands directly through tokens.

He references a post by Jacob Horne, co-founder of Zora, who describes memecoins as "prediction markets on attention." In essence, their market cap reflects how much buzz something is generating. But there's a trade-off: memecoins are vague and risky, while traditional prediction markets are more specific.

As seen in the diagram from Horne's post, memecoins sit on the "vague concept" side, while prediction markets offer "specific classification" with greater clarity. Cusack squints at this idea, suggesting it's all degrees of the same spectrum.

Anticipating pushback, Cusack addresses the skepticism around content and creator coins. While prediction markets align with established betting industries like sports wagering, he argues there's unique appeal in open-ended investing without fixed timelines. It's about collecting and betting on long-term potential, which could broaden the appeal of meme coins on platforms like Base.

The thread sparked replies from the community, with users plugging their favorite meme coins claiming to have that extra substance – from toads with lore to cats on Base. It shows the vibrant, if chaotic, nature of the space.

At Meme Insider, we see this as a sign of maturation in the meme token ecosystem. Adding real utility could help meme coins transition from pump-and-dump schemes to sustainable assets. If you're trading on Base or exploring blockchain innovations, keep an eye on these trends. They might just be the kernel that grows into the next big thing in crypto.