Ghibli-themed memecoins surge amid anime AI art trend on social media

The rise of Studio Ghibli-themed memecoins has taken the internet by storm, fueled by the growing popularity of AI-generated anime art on social media.

The frenzy began following Sam Altman's announcement of ChatGPT-4o's new image generation capabilities for paid subscribers on March 25, sparking a surge in cryptocurrency tokens inspired by the animation studio’s renowned style.

According to CoinMarketCap, tokens such as GhibliCZ, Shibli Inu, and Ghibli Doge have gained significant attention, though concerns over scams and potential financial losses continue to loom.

Among these, Ghiblification (GHIBLI), a Solana-based token, has drawn the most interest since its reported launch on March 26.

Market data shows that GHIBLI achieved a valuation of $31.24 million (approximately Rs. 266 crore) by March 28, trading at $0.02998 (around Rs. 2.5) after surging 46.5 percent in just 24 hours. With over 999 million GHIBLI tokens in circulation and a maximum supply capped at one billion, the token has been listed for trading on major exchanges including Kraken, Gate.io, and BingX.

The emergence of Ghibli-themed tokens is largely attributed to the viral spread of Ghibli-style AI art across platforms like Instagram and X. Users have been sharing digital artworks resembling the distinctive style of Studio Ghibli, known for its critically acclaimed films like Spirited Away (2001), Grave of the Fireflies (1998), and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013).

High-profile figures have also joined the trend, amplifying its reach. Elon Musk recently posted a Ghibli-style image of himself holding a Shiba Inu dog against a Lion King - themed backdrop - an image resonating with the crypto community due to the Shiba Inu’s association with popular tokens like Dogecoin (DOGE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB).

Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) embraced the trend by updating his profile picture on X in Ghibli style, while White House crypto advisor David Sacks shared a Ghibli-themed illustration featuring himself and former President Donald Trump.

While the memecoin craze has sparked excitement, it also presents significant risks. The majority of these tokens are created by anonymous developers, making it difficult to assess their credibility. Only investors equipped with advanced Web3 tools can attempt to verify these tokens’ legitimacy, underscoring the potential for scams and financial pitfalls.

Sam Altman addressed the immense interest in AI-generated Ghibli art, noting on March 28 that OpenAI's GPUs are struggling to keep up with demand. As a temporary measure, Altman announced that rate limits would be implemented to enhance efficiency. Additionally, the free tier of ChatGPT-4o will soon offer users three generations per day.

With platforms like X's Grok offering free Ghibli-style image generation tools, the trend shows no signs of slowing down. However, investors are urged to exercise caution amid the ongoing hype surrounding Ghibli-themed tokens.