The memecoin market has entered a period of stagnation since mid-November. The GMCI memecoin index has hovered around the 500-point mark in recent weeks. In contrast, DeFi altcoins have regained investor interest by demonstrating a strong upward trend.
Stagnation in the Memecoin Market
The GMCI memecoin index followed a horizontal trend after reaching 523.5 points on November 15. Starting at 274.5 points at the beginning of November, the index experienced rapid growth in the first half of the month. However, in recent weeks, the major memecoins have faced a decline in investor interest following price surges linked to exchange listings.
Min Jung from Presto Research noted that the memecoin market has become “overheated.” Jung stated, “Investor fatigue and discussions arising from platforms like Pump.fun have limited the surge.” The Solana 
$241-based Pump.fun suspended its live streaming feature due to threats observed during broadcasts and reports of child and animal exploitation, leading investors to shift their focus to smaller projects and other areas.
DeFi Altcoins Capture Renewed Interest
DeFi altcoins, on the other hand, have shown robust recovery in the past two weeks. The GMDEFI index increased from 82.47 points on November 14 to 111.43 points, marking a 35% rise. Arthur Cheong, CEO of Defiance Capital, indicated that investors are increasingly turning from memecoins to DeFi projects.
The shift away from memecoin rallies and the strong fundamentals of DeFi projects support this rise. Additionally, Donald Trump’s potential re-election as U.S. President has created a positive atmosphere for DeFi. The anticipation that crypto-friendly policies could bolster the future of decentralized finance is further fueling this interest.
Jung from Presto Research described this situation as a “return to fundamentals.” He mentioned, “Investors are gravitating towards projects with strong fundamentals. Furthermore, expectations of an interest rate cut are accelerating capital flow into DeFi projects,” making this a crucial catalyst for the performance of DeFi altcoins.
