Several trends that gained traction in 2024 are expected to maintain their momentum in 2025, according to industry experts. Among the most prominent are meme coins, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with blockchain technology, and the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs). These narratives highlight how blockchain innovation continues to evolve and reshape the financial ecosystem.
BeInCrypto spoke with prominent figures from the crypto and Web3 ecosystem to explore how these enduring trends are expected to shape the year ahead.
The Rise and Risks of Meme Coins: A 2025 Outlook
Meme coins remain a significant driver of market activity. This category stands out from other crypto narratives by attracting retail traders with its straightforward appeal and viral potential. Often launched as lighthearted tokens with limited utility, their success largely hinges on the strength of their community.
In 2024, meme coin generators revolutionized the segment. This innovation enables users without technical expertise to easily create and launch their own tokens, further driving the trend’s popularity. For instance, data revealed that Pump.fun, a popular meme coin launchpad on Solana, has facilitated the launch of over 3 million tokens, generating $187 million in revenue.
Moreover, according to CoinGecko’s 2024 quarterly report, meme coins were one of the most profitable narratives of the year. Thus, these combined backgrounds spark predictions of a potential “meme coin supercycle” in 2025, leading the experts to believe meme coins will continue to capture attention in the crypto space.
“Unexpected trends like utility NFTs or viral meme coins could still dominate the spotlight,” Anton Bukov, co-founder of 1inch, told BeInCrypto.
Meme coins’ appeal, while enticing, carries significant risks. According to a recent report from Chainplay, nearly one-third of investors have suffered losses due to meme coin scams. This phenomenon showcases the importance of exercising caution when investing in meme coins, despite their profit potential.
Vivien Lin, Chief Product Officer at BingX, warned that with the bull market on the horizon, retail investors might chase quick profits, increasing their exposure to potential losses.
“To sustain growth, the industry must focus on purposeful development and prioritize onboarding users with long-term goals in mind,” Lin suggested.
What Will Happen in 2025 When AI Meets Blockchain?
Besides meme coin, the integration of AI with blockchain is poised to redefine decentralized applications in the next year. Rob Dawson, CTO at Consensys, emphasized the critical role AI will play in 2025, both as an opportunity and a challenge.
“Following on from the trends, I think the impact of AI, and how it fits in will be a key challenge in 2025,” Dawson stated.
Anton Bukov echoed this sentiment. He envisions AI-enhanced solutions driving the next wave of innovation, particularly leading to a DeFi renaissance across EVM chains, TON, and Solana.
On the other hand, CoinEx Research highlighted the transformative potential of AI agents. They noted that these tools are already automating complex tasks in decentralized finance (DeFi).
“What started with ‘Truth Terminal (GOAT)’ as a chatbot has quickly evolved into role-play companions, investment DAOs, on-chain transaction executors, and even Web2 utilities like purchasing physical gifts. As AI agents get more integrated with on-chain logic, we think it opens up a world of possibilities,” the CoinEx Research team observed.
Additionally, Steve Milton, co-founder of Fintopio, emphasized the role of AI-powered crypto projects in advancing DeFi and other areas. He noted that the AI market would solidify its position by enabling smarter DeFi solutions, more sophisticated trading algorithms, and enhanced fraud detection,
“These projects will play a pivotal role in automating complex processes, making decentralized applications more efficient, and driving adoption in various industries,” Milton explained.
Experts Weigh In on RWA’s Evolving Use Cases in 2025
Blockchain technology’s versatility extends beyond AI, with RWA tokenization emerging as a key area of growth. This innovation bridges decentralized and traditional finance, unlocking new investment opportunities and improving market accessibility.
“RWA tokenization allows for fractional ownership, increased liquidity, and greater accessibility to previously illiquid assets. This shift represents a significant opportunity for investors to diversify their portfolios,” Vivien Lin elaborated.
Ruslan Lienkha, Chief of Markets at YouHodler, expanded on this point. He noted that RWA tokenization extends beyond finance into other industries.
“By enabling fractional ownership and increasing liquidity, tokenization is unlocking new investment opportunities while expanding the use cases for blockchain technology in industries such as supply chains, healthcare, and real estate,” he explained.
As 2025 approaches, experts agree that these narratives will continue to drive growth, presenting opportunities for innovation and challenges in achieving sustainable development. Balancing hype with purpose will be essential for the crypto industry to maintain its momentum in these transformative areas.
In addition to this topic, BeInCrypto has gathered insights from other industry experts on additional narratives poised to shape 2025. Explore them here:
