Will $DEGEN stay the #1 meme coin on Base through 2026?

$DEGEN is a cryptocurrency that began as a social tipping token on the Farcaster network, evolving into the native gas token for Degen Chain, a Layer-3 blockchain built on Coinbase's Base network. The project has recently announced plans to sunset Degen Chain by August 31, 2026, shifting its focus to the Base ecosystem and the POV Market. ([coinmarketcap.com](https://coinmarketcap.com/cmc-ai/degen-base/price-prediction/?utm_source=openai)) As of August 21, 2026, $DEGEN is trading at approximately $0.00110402 USD, with a 24-hour trading volume of around $60.5 million IDR. ([coinmarketcap.com](https://coinmarketcap.com/id/currencies/degen-base/?utm_source=openai)) The question of whether $DEGEN will maintain its position as the leading meme coin on Base through 2026 is of interest due to the project's strategic shift and the competitive nature of the meme coin market. Taking the "yes" side suggests confidence in $DEGEN's ability to adapt and retain its top position, while the "no" side indicates skepticism about its future dominance.