PEPE Defies Market Downturn with 12% Weekly Surge as Whales Accumulate and Network Growth Spikes 39%

The PEPE memecoin has emerged as a standout performer amidst broader market weakness, posting a 3% gain in the last 24 hours and a 12% increase over the past week. This rally is being driven by a combination of speculative capital inflows and fundamental network growth, creating a complex picture for traders.

On-chain data reveals a significant spike in new user adoption. According to Santiment, PEPE's network growth—measuring new addresses conducting their first transaction—surged by 39% in 24 hours, jumping from 448 to 623 new addresses. This metric suggests the token is attracting attention beyond its existing holder base, historically a precursor to price appreciation.

Derivatives markets are also flashing bullish signals. Data from CoinGlass shows Open Interest in PEPE futures climbed 7.87% in a single day, reaching $257.18 million. This increase in the total value of outstanding contracts indicates new speculative capital is entering the market, with traders opening fresh positions in anticipation of further upside.

Whale activity provides further support for the rally. Last Sunday, large investors executed 36 transfers each exceeding $1 million. This significant whale accumulation helped push PEPE above the $0.000005 level. Analysts suggest that continued accumulation by whales, combined with rising Open Interest, could act as strong support to sustain price increases if market sentiment remains positive.

The broader memecoin sector is showing signs of a coordinated recovery. Market observers are tracking rising momentum, with four other tokens—GIGA, TURBO, BONK, and SPX—demonstrating unique volatility patterns that suggest potential breakout behavior. Analysts note that recovery signals appear more consistent than in previous cycles, encouraging increased attention on weekend movements and potential 10x-style breakouts across the group.