The post PEPE Surges 62% as Memecoin Season Returns Despite Bitcoin Stagnation appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.

Timothy Morano
Jan 07, 2026 07:27

Pepe trades near overbought levels at current prices as retail traders drive 500% volume surge, signaling potential altcoin season despite Bitcoin’s weakness.

Pepe Rallies 62% as Memecoins Decouple From Bitcoin’s Sluggish Performance Pepe has emerged as the standout performer in an increasingly fragmented cryptocurrency market, posting a remarkable 62% gain while Bitcoin languishes with a modest 0.69% decline. This dramatic divergence signals what many analysts believe could be the beginning of altcoin season, with memecoins leading the charge despite technical indicators flashing warning signs. The frog-themed token’s explosive rally has been accompanied by extraordinary trading activity, with 24-hour volumes exceeding $1 billion according to Binance spot data. Trading volumes surged over 500% as retail participants piled into PEPE-linked futures, suggesting the current momentum extends beyond simple spot buying into more sophisticated derivatives strategies. Retail Army Drives Institutional Interest What makes this rally particularly noteworthy is the composition of PEPE holders. Robinhood users now control 8.3% of the token’s total supply, representing a significant concentration of retail ownership that has caught institutional attention. This retail dominance mirrors the GameStop phenomenon of 2021, where coordinated buying from individual investors created sustained price movements that defied traditional market logic. Trader James Wynn has issued one of the most bullish predictions for PEPE, forecasting the token could reach a $69 billion market capitalization by year-end. To put this in perspective, such a valuation would place PEPE among the top five cryptocurrencies by market cap, a scenario that seemed impossible just months ago. However, veteran crypto analyst Mike McGlone offers a more cautious perspective, noting that “memecoin rallies typically coincide with market tops rather than sustainable bull runs. The current PEPE euphoria reminds me of the SHIB mania in late 2021,…

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Filed under: News - @ January 7, 2026 8:27 pm