What if I told you that memes are more than just internet jokes? That they are the very building blocks of culture, that have shaped the way we think, connect, and evolve?

In a previous article I touched on the way we talk about memecoins in the context of crypto mass adoption and how they are perceived. But what I didn’t explore is what a meme actually is.

And yes, I know the title is clickbait, please forgive me I just wanted to get your attention. I hope, and believe, that this discussion will still be interesting to you.

Let me follow that up with something less controversial: most people don’t fully grasp the true essence of a meme. And if they do, they rarely say it outright. The word “meme” has been hijacked by internet pop culture and reduced to viral jokes. But that is not what memes are truly about.

Memes are the cultural equivalent of genes: ideas that evolve, replicate, and compete for survival.

A lost cause: When you invent a serious academic concept, but the world turns it into something else entirely.

The biologist and author Richard Dawkins first introduced this concept in The Selfish Gene in 1976. He argued that memes, like genes, evolve in a competitive environment. Some fade into irrelevance, while others embed themselves into society so deeply that they shape entire belief systems: Religions? National identities? Political ideologies? Those all are examples of some of the strongest and most successful memes known to mankind.

So what determines whether a meme survives – or disappears?

As mentioned, Dawkins compared memes to genes competing in an evolutionary environment. Just like genes compete in the gene pool, memes compete in the meme pool. Here, memes must meet three critical conditions to survive:

1. Longevity – A meme must endure over time rather than fade quickly.
2. Fidelity – It must retain its core identity, even as it spreads.
3. Fecundity/Fertility – It should be easy to share and replicate across different mediums.

Memes that meet these three criteria tend to outlast others, becoming deeply embedded in culture. But there is more to that. Dawkins proposed that the most powerful memes act like mental parasites – they don’t just spread, they occupy our brains. He wrote:

“When you plant a fertile meme in my mind you literally parasitize my brain, turning it into a vehicle for the meme's propagation in just the way that a virus may parasitize the genetic mechanism of a host cell.”

Why do some memes take root in culture while others vanish? And how does this connect to the world we live in today?

The answer lies in cultural shifts. Traditional communities, like religion, family structures, local social networks, are weakening. More people live in isolated environments, whether in megacities or digital spaces dominated by work and school. At the same time, self-improvement culture is on the rise. People are increasingly focused on optimizing their lives, cutting out distractions, and finding new ways to define meaning and identity.

Doing what society won’t: When you realize the meme pool is more welcoming than real life.

This creates a vacuum. People need new communities, new belief systems, and new sources of motivation. When a meme fulfills these needs, it sticks. It doesn’t just spread, it becomes part of how people think and act. But survival isn’t just about being seen. It happens when people are drawn to something, because what people want, they strengthen and spread.

So what does this mean for memecoins today, in a time when celebrity coins, government-backed tokens, and every "new meta" rise and fall – most leaving their communities rugged?

The market always gravitates toward memes that offer something deeper. Basically memes that resonate, spread naturally, and build lasting communities. And for me, Kendu is the strongest example of this in action.

I argue that Kendu is a perfect response to the growing desire for self-improvement and meaningful connections. Kendu isn’t about an image of a ferocious dog/fox hybrid – it’s an idea, a way of life. A movement built on the “Can do” attitude that empowers individuals, and that’s exactly why people want to be part of it. As a result, for Kendu, survival in the meme pool isn’t random. It’s a natural result of its core “Can Do” belief system:

• Longevity – Most crypto projects fade within months, particularly during bad market conditions. But Kendu thrives through highs and lows and is only getting stronger. Why? Because a “Can do” community doesn’t quit when markets go red, it keeps pushing forward.
• Fidelity – Memes evolve naturally over time, but Kendu’s core identity doesn’t dilute, it reinforces itself. No matter how it spreads or transforms, that core "Can do" identity remains unchanged.
• Fecundity/Fertility – The strongest memes spread organically, but Kendu doesn’t just spread – it activates people. The community is built around taking initiative and is naturally hardworking, engaged, and driven.

You think this is just empty talk, the generic yapping of a Kendu chad? Ask yourself – out of all the tokens you’ve held or seen in the past months, why is Kendu the one with a consistently active community, a strong presence on socials, and real-life initiatives – even in red markets?

That’s not a coincidence. It’s exactly what I’ve been arguing. And I predict the market will recognize it too – because a meme like Kendu is built to survive and thrive in the meme pool. And let me clarify, I am not arguing that Kendu is the only meme built like this and that it is the only one that will succeed. Multiple memes can thrive and coexist. And for me, Kendu is the strongest example of this in action.

Natural selection in action: Survival in the meme pool isn’t random.

So what is the take home message? What's the bigger picture?

Survival in the meme pool isn’t random, it follows clear logic. And for me Kendu is the best example for this:

• Kendu’s Can Do mindset makes longevity, fidelity, and fecundity a logical outcome.
• Kendu taps into a cultural shift where people seek new communities that focus on self-improvement and personal optimization.
• Kendu isn’t a meme people just hold and watch. It’s a community people want to actively be part of.

If you’ve made it this far, I want to hear from you, because your perspective matters:

If memes are the cultural equivalent of genes, what do you think makes a meme strong enough to survive? And which ones do you see thriving in the meme pool?

link to CMC of Kendu: https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/kendu-inu/