CryptoKitties exploded onto the scene in late 2017 as one of the first major applications of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on the Ethereum blockchain. The game allowed users to buy, collect, and breed unique digital cats, leading to such massive popularity that it famously slowed the entire Ethereum network to a crawl. The memes associated with CryptoKitties usually poke fun at the massive amounts of money spent on digital assets, the complexity of 'cattributes,' and the irony of high-tech blockchain technology being used for virtual pets. It remains a foundational icon in the crypto world, representing the birth of the NFT movement and the speculative nature of digital ownership.