Last Updated: March 2026
POPCAT (POPCAT) is a Solana-based memecoin inspired by the viral “Pop Cat” internet meme — the wide-eyed cat that opens its mouth with a popping sound. Launched in late 2023, POPCAT rode the Solana memecoin wave to a market cap exceeding $1 billion, making it one of the most recognized cat-themed tokens in crypto. Like all memecoins, POPCAT has zero utility and is driven entirely by community sentiment, social media hype, and speculative trading. This guide covers POPCAT’s origins, how it works, its tokenomics, and how it compares to other cat memecoins.
History of POPCAT
The story of POPCAT begins with the Pop Cat meme itself. In October 2020, a short video clip of a cat named “Oatmeal” opening its mouth wide — edited with a popping sound effect — went viral across Twitter, Reddit, and TikTok. The meme spawned countless remixes, a browser-based clicking game (popcat.click) where countries competed for clicks, and became one of the most recognizable animal memes on the internet. See our memecoin guide for background on how internet culture drives token creation.
In December 2023, an anonymous developer launched the POPCAT token on the Solana blockchain, tapping into both the meme’s built-in recognition and the booming Solana memecoin ecosystem. The token was deployed as a fair launch with no presale, no team allocation, and no venture capital backing — a structure that appealed to memecoin traders wary of insider-heavy launches and potential rug pulls.
POPCAT initially traded on Solana decentralized exchanges like Raydium and Jupiter at fractions of a cent. In early 2024, as the broader Solana memecoin sector surged alongside tokens like BONK and WIF, POPCAT began its parabolic rally. By mid-2024, the token had gained thousands of percent from its launch price. Major centralized exchanges including Binance, Bybit, and KuCoin listed POPCAT throughout 2024, dramatically increasing its liquidity and visibility. At its peak, POPCAT briefly exceeded a $1.5 billion market cap, placing it among the top cat-themed cryptocurrencies by valuation.
How POPCAT Works
POPCAT is an SPL token — the standard token format on the Solana blockchain. It has no smart contract functionality beyond basic transfers. There is no staking mechanism, no governance system, no burn mechanism, and no DeFi protocol behind it. It is, by design, a pure memecoin.
Traders can buy and sell POPCAT on Solana-based decentralized exchanges like Raydium and Jupiter by connecting a Solana-compatible crypto wallet such as Phantom or Solflare. POPCAT is also available on several centralized exchanges — check our best crypto exchange guide for options. Because POPCAT runs on Solana, transactions settle in seconds and cost fractions of a cent, which contributed to its popularity among high-frequency memecoin traders.
Always verify the official POPCAT contract address from trusted sources before trading. The memecoin space is rife with copycat tokens and scam contracts designed to steal funds.
Tokenomics
POPCAT was launched with a fixed total supply of approximately 980 million tokens. The tokenomics are deliberately simple, which is common among fair-launch memecoins. See our tokenomics explainer for more on how token supply affects value.
- Total Supply: ~980,000,000 POPCAT
- Launch Type: Fair launch — no presale, no team tokens, no insider allocations
- Transaction Tax: 0% — no buy or sell tax on trades
- Contract: Renounced — the deployer gave up contract ownership
- Inflation: None — the supply is fixed with no minting capability
The zero-tax, fixed-supply structure means POPCAT’s price is determined purely by market supply and demand. There are no built-in deflationary mechanisms or treasury funds. This simplicity is both a feature — traders know exactly what they are getting — and a risk, as there is no protocol-level support for the token’s value.
POPCAT vs Other Cat Memecoins
POPCAT is part of a growing category of cat-themed memecoins that emerged as alternatives to the dominant dog-themed tokens like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu. Here is how POPCAT compares to its closest competitor:
- POPCAT vs MEW: Both are Solana-based cat memecoins that launched in late 2023. MEW (cat in a wif hat) positions itself with a slightly different meme identity. POPCAT benefits from the Pop Cat meme’s broader internet recognition beyond crypto, while MEW leans more heavily into Solana’s internal memecoin culture. Both are pure speculation with no utility.
- POPCAT vs Dog Memecoins: Dog memecoins like BONK and WIF have historically commanded larger market caps and deeper liquidity. Cat memecoins like POPCAT represent a niche counter-narrative — the idea that cats deserve meme representation too. This “cats vs dogs” dynamic has fueled social media engagement but does not change the fundamental reality that all memecoins are highly speculative.
Pros and Cons
- Pro: Based on one of the most widely recognized internet memes globally
- Pro: Listed on major centralized and decentralized exchanges
- Pro: Strong Solana memecoin community with active social media presence
- Pro: Fair launch with no insider allocations or transaction taxes
- Con: Zero utility — pure meme-driven speculation with no underlying product
- Con: Extreme price volatility — double-digit percentage swings are routine
- Con: Cat memecoins are a niche within an already speculative memecoin sector
- Con: Entirely dependent on community hype and social media trends for value
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pop Cat meme?
Pop Cat is an internet meme that originated in October 2020, featuring a cat named Oatmeal whose mouth was edited to open wide with a “pop” sound effect. The meme went viral on Twitter, Reddit, and TikTok, and later inspired a competitive clicking game. Its widespread recognition outside of crypto made it natural source material for a memecoin.
Is POPCAT a good investment?
POPCAT is a memecoin with no utility, no revenue, and no product. Its price is driven entirely by speculation and social media sentiment. While early buyers saw enormous returns, memecoins can lose 90%+ of their value just as quickly. Only allocate money you can afford to lose completely, and understand that POPCAT is closer to gambling than investing.
How do I buy POPCAT?
POPCAT is available on major centralized exchanges and on Solana DEXs like Raydium and Jupiter. To buy on a DEX, connect a Solana-compatible wallet, swap SOL for POPCAT, and always verify the official contract address to avoid scam tokens. For centralized exchanges, see our best crypto exchange comparison.
Will POPCAT go up?
No one can reliably predict memecoin prices. POPCAT has no fundamentals to analyze — its price is entirely sentiment-driven. It could rally again during a memecoin cycle, or it could fade into irrelevance. Treat any memecoin position as entertainment spending, not a serious investment.
Can POPCAT reach $5?
At a supply of ~980 million tokens, a $5 price would imply a market cap of roughly $4.9 billion — which would make POPCAT one of the largest memecoins in existence. While not mathematically impossible, it would require an extraordinary and sustained wave of speculative demand. Most memecoins never sustain their peak valuations. Approach extreme price targets with heavy skepticism.
