A recent poll conducted on behalf of the UK’s financial watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), reveals a fascinating trend: while the total number of people holding cryptocurrency has decreased, the value of the assets held by those remaining has grown substantially. This indicates a “flight to quality” where casual gamblers are exiting the market, leaving behind investors who are growing their capital.
Nevertheless, people are still looking for the best meme coins to buy. It is no longer about finding the next random lottery ticket, but about identifying projects that combine viral potential with tangible utility.
UK crypto ownership drops, but conviction rises
According to a YouGov poll released by the FCA on Tuesday, the percentage of the UK adult population holding cryptocurrency dropped to 8% in 2025, down from 12% in 2024. At first glance, this might seem bearish, but a deeper analysis of the numbers reveals a bullish trend for established and high-potential assets. The share of ownership is still double what it was in 2021, and more importantly, there is a continuing trend of growing portfolio values.
The report highlights that small-value ownership is declining, while large-value holdings are growing. Specifically, 21% of respondents held between $1,343 and $6,708 in crypto, and 11% held between $6,709 and $13,416. The FCA noted that more people are moving away from small holdings and are instead making larger investments.
This shift suggests that investors are becoming more knowledgeable and comfortable with risk, moving capital into assets they believe have long-term staying power or massive growth potential.
The 5 best meme coins to buy now if you want to make excessive wealth by 2026
Here is the list of the top contenders of trending meme coins with massive potential for gains in 2026:
1. DeepSnitch AI ($DSNT): Innovative meme coin platform
DeepSnitch AI earns the top spot on any best meme coins to buy list because it breaks the usual pattern. If you’re hearing about it for the first time, it’s a trading intelligence layer that already works before launch. Instead of asking buyers to wait on promises, it gives them tools they can use immediately.
That matters because the market is unforgiving right now. BTC slips, hype cycles rotate fast, and retail traders often feel hunted. DeepSnitch AI is built for this chaos. While the market gives nothing, DSNT gives traders something real.
SnitchGPT is live and answers direct market questions. SnitchScan is live and checks contracts before traps close. SnitchFeed is live and tracks whale activity in real time. The dashboard is live, and staking is live, uncapped, and already locking over 20 million tokens.
With the launch coming soon in January and growing rumors of Tier-1 listings, it is one of the best meme coins to buy now. Meme energy brings attention, but live utility decides who wins. DeepSnitch AI is built so that early holders are on the right side of that move.
2. BuildOn (B): One of the top meme crypto projects
BuildOn enters the ranking as one of the few assets showing positive momentum in a bearish market. With a price increase of 2% in the last seven days as of December 16th, BuildOn is outperforming the global crypto market, which is down by 6%. This is a key indicator of viral token sentiment, suggesting that the project has decoupled from the general bearish trend.
The technical outlook for BuildOn is aggressively bullish for the long term. Analysts predict that the token could rise by 115% to reach $0.5000 by December 16, 2026. While the current volatility is extremely high at 16%, this is often the price of admission for high-growth assets. BuildOn has recorded 18 green days out of the last 30, a 60% success rate that indicates sustained buying pressure.
3. Dogecoin (DOGE): One of the trending meme coins
While it may not offer the explosive short-term gains of a token launch, DOGE remains a staple for any serious crypto portfolio. However, recent performance has been bearish, with the token declining by 11% in the last seven days as of December 16th.
The price predictions for Dogecoin suggest a slow and steady grind higher rather than a moonshot. Experts forecast that in 2028, the average trading cost for DOGE will be around $0.4319, with a potential maximum of $0.4984. By 2029, this could rise to an average of $0.6036.
This represents a potential ROI of over 280% over several years. While this is a respectable return, it requires a multi-year time. For the UK investors identified in the FCA poll who are consolidating into larger positions, DOGE offers stability. But for the best meme coins to buy, DeepSnitch AI is the top pick.
4. Brett (BRETT): The BNB Chain challenger
Brett has declined by 19% on the weekly chart, severely underperforming the market. This drop aligns with the “extreme fear” sentiment currently gripping the sector, as investors rotate out of mid-cap memes and into either safe havens or high-conviction tokens.
Despite the recent crash, the long-term forecast for Brett remains optimistic. Analysts predict a 163% rise to reach $0.04028 by December 2030. While a 163% gain is nothing to sneeze at, the timeline extends all the way to the end of the decade. Waiting five years for a 2.6x return is a difficult proposition when projects like DeepSnitch AI are targeting similar or greater returns in the first quarter of 2026. Brett remains a viable hold for those deeply embedded in the BNB ecosystem.
5. Pudgy Penguins (PENGU): One of the top meme crypto projects
Pudgy Penguins has suffered alongside the broader NFT market slump. PENGU is down 19% in the last seven days, showing the broader disinterest in NFT coins during periods of market stress.
The price prediction for PENGU is similar to that of Brett, with a forecasted rise of 165% to reach $0.02698 by December 2030. Like Brett, this is a long-term recovery coin rather than an immediate growth opportunity. The project has recorded only 10 green days out of the last 30, indicating that sellers are currently in control.
The bottom line
DeepSnitch AI is one of the best meme coins to buy now, and many investors are accumulating it. The demand is heavy, and only those who join now will benefit from the massive gains that are expected once it launches in January 2026. It is an intelligence platform that happens to have the viral token sentiment of a meme.
With over $825,000 raised and a Live Dashboard that proves its utility daily, DeepSnitch AI is the best pick for 2026.
FAQs
Why is DeepSnitch AI the number one among the best meme coins to buy?
DeepSnitch AI is the top pick. It has a low entry valuation, making it easier to make massive gains, up to 100x and above.
How does the UK FCA poll affect viral token sentiment?
The poll suggests that while fewer people own crypto, those who do are investing larger amounts. This “consolidation of conviction” is bullish for a viral token sentiment like DeepSnitch AI.
What makes DeepSnitch AI different from Dogecoin?
Dogecoin is a currency and a store of cultural value, but it lacks inherent utility. DeepSnitch AI is a utility token that powers a suite of live trading tools.
