Crypto Investors Warned of Liquidity Risks in Small-Token Indexes as Meme Coin Gruntle Gains Presale Interest

A Coin Metrics analysis highlighted that extending crypto benchmarks into the long‑tail – smaller, less liquid tokens – creates significant replication challenges for investors. Fragmented trading venues, thin order books and higher slippage (e.g., Ethena exceeding 2% on large orders) can turn theoretical index premiums into unachievable returns. The report noted that rebalancing frequency, token classification and quote‑currency choice further affect performance, making practical tracking of long‑tail indexes difficult for institutions.

Meanwhile, market attention is shifting toward new, lower‑profile projects. Gruntle, an Ethereum‑based ERC‑20 meme coin, has launched an early‑entry presale featuring a capybara‑themed brand and a “deadpan” aesthetic. It offers a 5 billion‑token supply with mechanisms such as a Deep Mud Reserve (20% of supply) for buybacks and burns, and a Doomsday Vault (25%) for ecosystem development. While Bitcoin and Ethereum remain the dominant long‑term holdings, some investors are seeking asymmetric upside in such smaller presales despite the broader liquidity concerns highlighted by the index study.