Popcat

The history of Popcat, also known as POPCAT, began in October 2020 when Twitter user @XavierBFB posted two images of his domestic short-haired cat named Oatmeal to a private Discord server. One image showed Oatmeal with its mouth closed, while the other was edited to depict the cat with its mouth open in an "O" shape. This meme quickly gained popularity and was turned into a series of videos showcasing Oatmeal lip-syncing various songs, earning it the nickname "wide-mouth singing cat".

The meme spread rapidly across social media platforms, including iFunny, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. It was often used in music videos where Oatmeal's mouth movements were synced to the music, creating the illusion that the cat was singing. This format became extremely popular, leading to the creation of various edits and memes featuring Oatmeal.

In December 2020, a group of students from the University of Sheffield in the UK launched a game called "pp cat.click" (later known as Popcat.click), where users could click on an interactive image of Oatmeal, causing its mouth to open and make a "pop" sound. The game included a leaderboard that ranked countries based on the number of clicks, sparking a global competition among users.

The game's popularity surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in Asia, where countries like Taiwan, Thailand, and Malaysia competed fiercely to top the leaderboard. The game became a cultural phenomenon, with its popularity linked to various events, including the Tokyo Olympics and protests in Thailand and Malaysia.

Today, Popcat remains a beloved internet meme, with its official Instagram account and merchandise store dedicated to Oatmeal. The meme has also inspired spin-offs, such as Popdog, which replaces Oatmeal with a dog.

Popcat, also known as POPCAT, is a popular internet meme turned into a game and a cryptocurrency. Here's how it works:

The game, launched in December 2020 by three students from the University of Sheffield, revolves around a simple clicker mechanism. Users visit the Popcat website and click on an image of a cat named Oatmeal. Each click registers a score, and the cat's mouth opens and closes, making a "pop" sound. The scores are added to the user's country, and the leaderboard is updated in real-time, showing the top-scoring countries.

To increase scores, users can employ automated clickers or keyboard shortcuts. These hacks allow for faster and more efficient scoring, contributing to the overall country score.

The Popcat meme has been transformed into a cryptocurrency on the Solana blockchain. The Popcat crypto, also known as $POPCAT, has a total supply of 979,974,293 tokens. The majority of these tokens (93.1%) are allocated to a liquidity pool, while the remaining 6.9% is stored in a multi-sig wallet for future use.

To purchase Popcat tokens, users need to set up a Solana wallet, such as the Phantom wallet, and deposit SOL (Solana's native token). They can then trade Popcat tokens on Solana Decentralized Exchanges (DEX). However, investing in Popcat, like any cryptocurrency, comes with risks and volatility.

Popcat's popularity has been driven by its simplicity, the COVID-19 pandemic, and its use in various contexts, including protests and social media trends. It has become a global phenomenon, with merchandise and a strong online presence.

Popcat (POPCAT) has several strengths that contribute to its popularity and market prominence:

1. Community Engagement: Popcat's value is largely driven by community perception and engagement. This means that the coin's popularity and market performance are closely tied to the enthusiasm and participation of its community, which can lead to significant market movements.

2. Speculative Excitement: As a meme coin, Popcat generates a high level of speculative excitement among investors and traders. This excitement can drive the coin's value upward, especially when fueled by social media trends, celebrity endorsements, or sudden shifts in investor sentiment.

3. Token Structure: Popcat has a simple yet effective token structure, with a total supply of 979,974,293 POPCAT tokens. The majority of these tokens, 93.1%, are allocated for various purposes, which can help maintain a stable supply and demand balance.

4. Solana Blockchain: Popcat operates on the Solana blockchain, which is known for its high speed and low transaction fees. This can make it more attractive to users and investors compared to other blockchain platforms.

5. Viral Origins: The Popcat meme originated on the internet in October 2020 and quickly gained popularity. This viral nature has helped the meme coin to tap into the existing popularity and cultural relevance of the meme, which can contribute to its market success.

Overall, Popcat's strengths lie in its ability to leverage community engagement, speculative excitement, and the popularity of the underlying meme to drive its market performance.

Popcat (POPCAT) carries several risks that potential investors should be aware of:

1. Lack of Intrinsic Value: Popcat, like many meme coins, lacks intrinsic value or utility. Its value is primarily driven by speculation and social media influence, making it highly susceptible to market volatility.

2. Legitimacy Concerns: There is no formal connection between the Popcat crypto and the original Popcat meme game, which raises questions about the coin's legitimacy and long-term viability.

3. Market Volatility: The price of Popcat can fluctuate significantly based on social media trends, celebrity endorsements, or sudden shifts in investor sentiment, making it a highly speculative investment.

4. Risk of Scams or Fraud: As with any cryptocurrency, there is a risk of scams or fraud, particularly with meme coins. It is crucial to conduct thorough research and due diligence before investing.

5. High Speculation: Investments in Popcat are often based on speculation rather than fundamental value, which can lead to extreme price volatility.

6. Market Risks: The cryptocurrency market is highly volatile and subject to market risks. Investors should be prepared for potential losses and analyze the performance history and ongoing development activities before making any investment decisions.

These risks highlight the importance of careful consideration and thorough research before investing in Popcat or any other meme coin.

• Freddy Heppell: One of the three students from the University of Sheffield who launched the game pp cat.click on 11 December 2020.
• Joshua O’Sullivan: Another student from the University of Sheffield involved in the creation and launch of pp cat.click.
• Edward Hails: The third student from the University of Sheffield who contributed to the development and launch of pp cat.click.