Jesse Eckel breaks down a new and fast-growing narrative in crypto: Internet Capital Markets (ICM). He explains why he’s placing early bets on this trend, what makes it different from traditional altcoins or memecoins, and the two specific tokens he’s investing in: Launchcoin and Band.
📈 Internet Capital Markets: The Next Wave of Altcoins
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What Are Internet Capital Markets (ICM)?
ICM tokens are decentralized funding vehicles. They give anyone the ability to raise capital for an idea, like a startup or app, using token issuance without needing VC access. -
Meme Culture Meets Startup Capital
Jesse describes ICMs as the evolution of memecoins, using the same viral token mechanics, but to fund actual businesses or tools rather than jokes or empty hype. -
Powered by Believe.app
This Solana-based platform acts like pump.fun but focused on idea-driven tokens. Since April 2025, it has launched over 16,000 tokens and generated billions in trading volume.
🔍 Jesse’s Investments
1. Launchcoin
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Infrastructure token for Believe.app
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Every buy or sell carries a 2% fee, with 1% going to the token creator and 1% to Launchcoin’s treasury
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At a $200 million market cap, Jesse sees significant room for growth
Key Highlights:-
63x potential if it reaches Hyperliquid's scale
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464x if it ever rivaled Solana's size
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He views it as a "blue-chip-in-the-making" for the ICM ecosystem
2. Band
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A micro-cap ($600K market cap) social video app like Vine with community moderation
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Verified on Believe.app, one of only 20 verified tokens
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Already live with 2,000 users and mentioned by Solana's official account
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Recommended by a trusted member of Jesse’s community with a strong track record
⚖️ Legal and Regulatory Outlook
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Favorable SEC Environment
Jesse notes that the new SEC under Paul Atkins, with Hester Peirce leading crypto regulation, is taking a deregulatory, pro-innovation stance -
Not Quite Securities
ICM tokens operate in a legal gray area, avoiding direct equity links while still offering economic incentives. This is similar to how many utility tokens were structured in prior cycles
🧠 The Bigger Picture
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Decentralized VC for the Masses
Jesse believes ICMs will let anyone invest in startups, research, apps, and creators from day one, replacing traditional gatekeepers -
Believe.app as the "New NASDAQ"
If Believe.app becomes the default launchpad for early-stage ideas, Jesse sees massive upside, potentially greater than Ethereum’s early days with ERC-20s in 2017 -
On-Chain First Movers
These tokens aren’t on Coinbase or Kraken yet. Jesse argues that the best opportunities are on-chain only, and early buyers need to do the work
🧩 Final Thoughts from Jesse
Jesse Eckel views Internet Capital Markets as the next frontier of altcoins, a narrative that combines meme-style virality with real-world utility. Platforms like Believe.app are laying the groundwork for a new way to fund and launch businesses, and tokens like Launchcoin and Band are his early bets on that infrastructure. With regulatory support shifting and tokenization gaining momentum, Jesse believes the potential is massive. As always, he warns that these investments carry high risk, and smart timing and independent research are essential.
