Can Tron Compete with Solana?

Justin Sun’s latest moves hint at an upcoming meme coin explosion on the Tron network.

Blockchain networks like Solana and, more recently, BNB Chain have witnessed strong performance thanks to meme coins. But is Tron’s entry at this stage too late, especially when the so-called “super cycle” of meme coins is predicted to have ended?

Tron and Justin Sun Enter the Meme Coin Race

With impressive price performances, meme coins have captured the attention of both investors and major blockchain ecosystems. Tron (TRX), under the leadership of Justin Sun, is making its move in this space.

The launch of the SunPump launchpad in August 2024 marks Tron’s official entry into the meme coin race. With Tron’s low transaction fees and high processing speeds, SunPump simplifies meme coin creation, strategically positioning itself as a competitor to platforms like Pump.fun on Solana (SOL).

Justin Sun now plans to join the meme coin space by buying tokens.

“The wallet is ready, and I’m starting to buy meme coins,” Sun revealed recently.

Sun made a strong statement in early March promoting meme coins on Tron as well.

“The first rule of creating memes on Tron: I will not take a single cent in profit from meme coins. Any losses will be fully covered by me, and all profits will be donated,” said Sun.

SunPump has already made waves with its six-month zero transaction fee policy, attracting numerous new projects. This initiative has fueled a surge in Tron’s meme coin market, with several projects gaining significant traction.

Justin Sun has also highlighted Tron’s advantages—low-cost transactions and high efficiency—through an X (formerly Twitter) post in August 2024, emphasizing that Tron provides the ideal environment for meme coin development.

It’s undeniable that meme coins have contributed to the success of major blockchain networks. For example, BNB Smart Chain (BSC) recently surpassed Solana in decentralized exchange (DEX) trading volume, largely due to the surge of meme coin projects on BSC.

Is Tron Too Late?

Despite Tron’s active involvement in meme coins, the market is declining. The meme coin market capitalization has dropped 56.8% from its peak of $125 billion in December 2024, signaling the possible end of the explosive “supercycle.”

Major meme coins like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu have experienced significant price drops, with trading volumes decreasing 26.2% in the past month. This decline reflects waning public interest, which is evident from Google Trends data and a decreasing number of new meme coin projects.

Even competitors like Pump.fun on Solana are facing difficulties. The platform’s daily fee revenue has plunged 95%, from 12,000 SOL in February to below 1,000 SOL in March 2025. This trend suggests a broad market downturn affected Tron and other major players.

Despite the cooling market, Tron still holds unique advantages. With SunPump and direct support from Justin Sun, Tron has the potential to establish itself as a key player in the meme coin ecosystem.

Tron must focus on community building and fostering innovative projects. The meme coin race is far from over, and Tron still has an opportunity to carve out a strong position if it effectively leverages its strengths.