Nikolas Sargeant
Meme coins constitute a minor segment of the cryptocurrency landscape, yet they symbolize a fundamental shift in how digital attention translates to economic value, according to Sygnum Bank's chief clients officer Martin Burgherr.
During an interview with CNBC's Dan Murphy, Burgherr characterized meme coins as a "tokenization of attention," emphasizing that their worth derives from social capital generation rather than traditional financial fundamentals.
"Attention is something of value," Burgherr explained, drawing parallels to social media platforms like X, where influence correlates with follower count. He noted that meme coins digitally mirror this influence dynamic, which explains the substantial attention and perceived value surrounding tokens like $TRUMP, launched by the current US President.
Presidential Token Exemplifies Political Branding in Cryptocurrency Space
The Trump meme coin, designated as $TRUMP, debuted days before Donald Trump's 2025 inauguration as America's 47th president. Developed by CIC Digital LLC and Fight Fight Fight LLC—both Trump Organization affiliates—the token features distinctive branding, including cartoon imagery of Trump raising his fist after surviving a mid-2024 assassination attempt.
Although positioned as a non-political symbol aligned with Trump's "FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT" motto, the token's launch timing and imagery maintain its political relevance. Operating on the Solana blockchain, the token explicitly disclaims investment or security status, despite founders retaining 80% of total supply.
Critics question the ethics of such politicized financial instruments, yet their popularity underscores an emerging cryptocurrency trend where digital tokens reflect viral content and social sentiment rather than conventional market dynamics.
Swiss Banking Executive Advocates Measured Approach to Speculative Assets
Burgherr clarified that Sygnum, a regulated digital asset bank operating in Switzerland and Singapore, refrains from promoting meme coin speculation. "We primarily believe in major coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana," he stated, emphasizing that meme coin exposure should align with individual risk tolerance.
He dismissed concerns that meme coins undermine cryptocurrency industry credibility, highlighting their generally transparent structure. However, he acknowledged that like any emerging sector, meme coins require comprehensive governance and regulatory frameworks before fair evaluation.
Burgherr emphasized that meme coins represent merely a small fraction of a broader ecosystem encompassing DeFi, smart contracts, and Bitcoin. He noted Bitcoin's continued market dominance, significantly surpassing niche tokens like Trump coin in both market capitalization and institutional credibility.
Regarding recent cryptocurrency rallies, Burgherr attributed Bitcoin price gains to macroeconomic uncertainties and renewed risk asset optimism, citing inflation concerns and questions about US debt sustainability as primary drivers of investor interest in Bitcoin and gold.
