BitMEX Exchange deployed its version of an S&P 500 for meme coins on Thursday, effectively becoming the second hub to offer this kind of basket index in 2024.

Meme coins continue to ascend the ranks as crypto adoption continues to grow. Meanwhile, the development comes amid a sector bloodbath, with some altcoins posting double-digit losses.

BitMEX Launches Meme Basket Index Perp

The trading platform called its MEMEMEXTUSDT contract the “S&P 500 for crypto memecoins,” margined in Tether’s USDT stablecoin with up to 25X leverage. Like the premier US stock market index, the S&P 500, which tracks the prices of large-cap US stocks, it will simultaneously track and offer exposure to the top meme coins.

 “Users can bet on the overall performance of the assets in one go, rather than holding individual tokens,” BitMEX wrote in the announcement, adding, “By trading the contract, you get exposure to the entire basket of meme coins in our Meme Basket Index, without having to hold any of the individual tokens.”

Top meme coins featuring in the basket index include Pepe (PEPE), Shiba Inu (SHIB), Dogwifhat (WIF), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Bonk Inu (BONK). Others include FLOKI, BRETT, BOME, MEME, and MOG. The weighted methodology, which is based on market share, will ensure selection on market value metrics.

Read more: 7 Hot Meme Coins and Altcoins that are Trending in 2024

The product comes barely two months after investment firm VanEck launched its MEMECOIN Index. Christened MemeVector, VanEck’s product tracks only the first five tokens that BitMEX mentioned. The asset manager disclaimed, “Coins are intended for entertainment purposes.”

VanEck’s disclaimer came as meme coins were never taken seriously in the past. Forbes describes them as “cryptocurrencies inspired by memes and internet jokes, with little or no fundamental value.” However, some traders believe them to be a global shilling point for speculative liquidity.

“Meme coins may seem unconventional, but they highlight the power of community in crypto,” Tron founder and Huobi Global advisor Justin Sun said during Token2049.

Meme Coins Go Mainstream

Indeed, meme coins are a volatile sector with a tendency for price fluctuations as determined by market sentiment. Nevertheless, they have progressively climbed the ranks in 2024, jumpstarted by the Avalanche Foundation in December, committing to support diverse and culturally significant initiatives.

“The Avalanche Foundation intends to start using Culture Catalyst to recognize and encourage the culture and fun symbolized by meme coins by purchasing select Avalanche-based meme coins to create a collection. This move complements the Avalanche Foundation’s ongoing engagement across the Avalanche ecosystem, including NFTs, RWAs, and other types of crypto assets, broadening its portfolio to embrace a more complete spectrum of possibilities,” Avalanche wrote.

The Foundation’s commitment to invest in meme coins made the sector a bona fide cryptocurrency niche. Analysts are already predicting that this sector could lead the next altcoin season.

Read more: Best Crypto To Buy Now: Top Coins To Keep an Eye on in July 2024

Therefore, VanEck and BitMEX exchange launches are further advancing the niche. As meme coin adoption continues, more conservative investors could start approaching the scene just as Bitcoin spot ETFs (exchange-traded funds) brought BTC to Wall Street.

“Retail investors are drawn to meme coins because they offer the same opportunities as venture capitalists during seed, pre-seed, and private sale rounds,” Jonas Dovydaitis, Co-Founder & CEO at PAiT, told BeInCrypto.

Meanwhile, meme coins are dumping, with the sector’s market capitalization falling by almost 9% to $42 trillion. This is part of a market-wide crash led by Bitcoin, which is down 5% to trade for $57,459 at the time of writing.