Pepe Soars 70% as Meme Coins Explode into 2026: Bullish Signal or Classic Crypto Trap?

Meme coins kick off 2026 with a bang—Pepe leads the charge with a staggering 70% surge. Is this the start of a new altseason or just another liquidity mirage?

The Speculative Spark

Pepe’s rally isn't happening in a vacuum. The entire meme coin sector catches fire, dragging retail sentiment from the crypto winter's basement. Social metrics spike, trading volumes double overnight, and suddenly everyone’s an expert again. Classic signs of a market waking up—or just getting over-caffeinated?

Reading the Tea Leaves

Technical charts scream bullish. That 70% move smashes through resistance levels like they're made of paper. On-chain data shows fresh wallets piling in, while dormant whales stir from their slumber. The momentum feels real, but crypto has a PhD in manufacturing believable euphoria.

The Institutional Whisper

Behind the retail frenzy, institutional desks take notice. Options flow shifts, derivatives volumes ramp up, and suddenly meme coins appear on hedge fund radar—usually right before they extract maximum value from the hype cycle. Nothing brings traditional finance to the table like easy money and greater fools.

Survival Guide for the Surge

Chasing a 70% green candle demands strategy, not just adrenaline. Set hard exits, ignore influencer shills pushing ‘can’t-miss’ opportunities, and remember that most meme coins have the lifespan of a fruit fly. Profits aren’t real until they’re in a stablecoin—or better yet, off the exchange entirely.

The Bottom Line

Pepe’s pump injects much-needed excitement into crypto’s veins. It proves the market’s speculative engine still roars to life at the slightest spark. Just remember: in a sector where fundamentals often take a backseat to frog memes, today’s rally can become tomorrow’s ‘what was I thinking’ faster than you can say ‘risk management.’ The smart money enjoys the ride but never forgets where the exits are—because in crypto, the only thing more predictable than a boom is the bust that follows.

Why Are Meme Coins Rising?

The strongest gains are coming from meme coins within the Solana and ethereum ecosystems. As paradoxical as it may sound, periods of instability often work in favor of meme coins. This does not happen every time, but certain patterns tend to repeat.

For meme coins, trading volume is the key driver. Their relatively low prices allow them to rally quickly. At the same time, they can fall just as fast. Geopolitical developments have also played a role. For example, against the backdrop of events in Venezuela, activity in the meme coin market increased. And, as is often the case, thematic tokens quickly appeared.

One example is the MADURO token. Its market capitalization climbed to nearly $2 million. Many of these tokens usually migrate from around $60,000 in market cap. Based on that, this MOVE represents a growth of roughly 3,200%.

Another notable case is the FAFO token. The token takes its name from the acronym “FAFO,” which stands for “f**k around and find out.” The phrase gained attention online following recent events in Venezuela and was later echoed in a post by the WHITE House, which further amplified its visibility.

Although the FAFO token was launched almost a year ago, it only gained traction in January 2026. As the narrative spread, its market capitalization ROSE to around $3 million.

It is also worth noting that toward the end of December and into the first week of 2026, meme coins from the Bonk ecosystem began to rally more actively. These tokens are usually traded in pairs with USD1. This added extra liquidity to the market.

Meme coins tend to spread liquidity across many highly speculative assets. Even so, this still has a positive effect on the broader ecosystem. In particular, it supports Solana’s revenues. solana remains the main blockchain for launching so-called “casino coins,” and meme-driven activity continues to reinforce its role as core infrastructure.

PEPE and the Broader Market

It’s not just smaller or newly launched tokens that are moving. Some of the bigger and more established meme coins have started to rise as well. These include well-known names like PEPE, BONK, FLOKI, SHIB, and PENGU. This group is often seen as the “classic” side of the meme coin market. Some traders even joke that Pepe works as a broad market indicator. And recent price action gives that idea some weight.

As the chart shows, PEPE started to rise sharply on Jan. 1. After a brief pullback, the move continued. On Sunday, Jan. 3, at around 8:00 UTC, PEPE began climbing again.

Bitcoin followed shortly after, posting gains on Monday, Jan. 4.

,, told Cryptonews that meme coins could be getting a second wind, provided Bitcoin remains strong:

Meme coins are coming back. Q1, historically speaking, is a very good month. I expect some uptrends considering the global situation with the US, Venezuela, oil, rate cuts, and more. If BTC keeps its uptrend, we will see another strong run in meme coins. NFTs are also coming back, and some projects may launch meme tokens as well. The season is off to a good start.

At the same time, it’s worth keeping the risks in mind. The market remains highly volatile, and uncertainty is still high. While some experts expect more green candles in 2026, caution is especially important when it comes to meme coins.