Bitcoin News Update: Established Companies Venture into Meme Coin Sector Amid Retail Buzz Fueled by Bear Market

In the latter part of 2025, a bearish trend in the cryptocurrency sector has fueled a rise in "degen" (degenerate) style investing, with

coins unexpectedly becoming popular refuges for traders seeking risk. As major institutional investors and whales focus on locking in profits and consolidating positions, retail participants are increasingly drawn to speculative tokens like meme coins, spurred by viral social media trends and the promise of fast gains. A recent example involves and , who revealed plans to distribute a Dream Bowl 2026 Meme Coin to their shareholders, reflecting a growing movement of established companies stepping into the meme coin arena, .

The initiative by Scilex and Datavault AI, which will airdrop the meme coin to qualifying shareholders on December 8, 2025, highlights the increasing overlap between conventional finance and crypto-driven innovation.

Linked to the 2026 Dream Bowl, the token offers features such as ticket access and athlete highlight content, merging fan participation with blockchain solutions. This follows a boom in meme coin launches, with projects like BullZilla and gaining traction in a turbulent market, .

Large holder activity further illustrates the changing landscape. While Bitcoin whales have been offloading assets in recent months, major meme coin investors are accumulating aggressively. For example, ASTER has seen notable purchases from big holders, including one who acquired $8.14 million worth of tokens since November 4,

. ASTER’s derivatives trading volume soared by 34% in a single day, indicating a spike in speculative trading. Similarly, BullZilla’s early support has drawn parallels to Dogecoin’s early momentum, with supporters calling it a potential "next big crypto signal," .

Despite the overall bearish mood, characterized by falling Bitcoin prices and profit-taking among large investors, meme coins have seen increased demand. Bitcoin managed to hold above $100,000 in early November, buoyed by ETF inflows and corporate acquisitions from MicroStrategy, but pressured by whale sell-offs,

. Meanwhile, meme coin markets, which are less tied to traditional crypto indicators, have flourished on the back of social media buzz. “Meme coins are fast becoming the new arena for retail traders looking for alpha in a cautious market,” a blockchain analyst noted in a recent analysis, .

Broader economic and regulatory factors are also at play. While Bitcoin ETFs and institutional involvement help stabilize crypto prices, meme coins exist in a regulatory gray zone, attracting those willing to embrace higher risk. Scilex’s entry into meme coins reflects a wider trend of corporate experimentation, with companies like Sea Ltd and Ripple also exploring tokenized assets to reach digital-first audiences,

.

Still, this movement carries significant risk. Meme coins are highly volatile, with prices that can swing sharply based on online sentiment. ASTER’s recent 8% price increase stands in contrast to Bitcoin’s relatively flat performance, highlighting their divergent paths. Experts warn that while meme coins can benefit from short-lived hype, their long-term viability depends on real-world use and adoption—factors that remain underdeveloped for most projects,

.

As bearish trends continue, the degen crypto community keeps pushing limits, betting on viral appeal and community-driven

. With Scilex’s airdrop and increasing whale involvement, meme coins could demonstrate lasting relevance—even in a market dominated by caution, , , .