Leading meme coins, including Dogecoin (DOGE) and Pepe (PEPE), have shown a strong uptrend in early 2026, driving a broad rebound across the meme-coin market. Over the last week, PEPE rose about 70%, while DOGE and Shiba Inu each posted around 30% gains. Bonk, a Solana-based meme coin, surged about 70%, and Pengu rose roughly 45%, signaling broad strength across the sector. This rally began with DOGE and PEPE surging in tandem at 0:00 on January 2 (KST).
Subsequently, Shiba Inu and Bonk, as well as Pengu, joined the rally. Industry observers emphasize that the broad buying across meme coins is more a reflection of market dynamics than of any specific catalysts or news. Analysts attribute the rally to psychological drivers: traders seeking short-term profits in volatile meme coins amid Bitcoin’s sideways trading, coupled with a bottom-fishing impulse after earlier declines. The market’s tendency to react to price action over fundamentals is amplified by active futures trading on global venues, which adds leverage and heightens volatility.
While some view the pattern as a dead-cat bounce after a prior correction, others see continued selective demand for large-cap meme coins, despite softer overall sentiment in crypto. Conversely, if no clear catalysts emerge and headwinds intensify, the meme-coin sector could see a 20-30% near-term pullback. Given their inherent volatility, some warn that investors should take a cautious approach rather than relying on rapid spikes.
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