Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Pepe Coin (PEPE) have reclaimed market attention as meme coins experience a resurgence during a volatile period for Bitcoin and Ethereum. This shift coincides with traders returning to risk assets on centralized exchanges and a spike in social metrics for community-driven tokens. The trend is part of a broader rotation within the DeFi sector, where capital is flowing toward assets that blend cultural hype with tangible utility.
Shiba Inu's activity has been notable, with on-chain data showing increased token burns linked to renewed wallet activity. While its price has remained range-bound, trading volume has risen following burn-related announcements. Analysts interpret this as a sign of patient accumulation rather than weakness. SHIB recently rallied 28%, reaching $0.00000969 on January 5, 2025, before facing strong resistance at that level. Its price movements remain heavily influenced by Bitcoin's trajectory; the recent rejection near $0.0000096 coincided with BTC correcting from nearly $94,000 to around $92,000.
Pepe Coin (PEPE) has exhibited sharp volatility, attracting short-term traders. Social volume and speculation around whale interest surged following large on-chain transfers. As a top cryptocurrency priced under $1, PEPE continues to draw strong retail demand during meme coin rotations. Analysts are split on its outlook, with some viewing it as a momentum play driven by viral reach, while others caution about the risk of rapid pullbacks.
Amid the meme coin frenzy, a new narrative is emerging around payment-focused networks. The project Remittix, with its ERC-20 token, is positioning itself in this "PayFi" trend. It has launched its wallet on the Apple App Store and is set to launch a crypto-to-fiat platform on February 9. The project has secured $28.8 million in private funding and emphasizes low gas fees and real-world use cases like cross-border payments for freelancers. It has undergone verification by the CertiK security team.
The broader market context includes increased inflows into Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP ETFs, which have boosted overall market activity and indirectly benefited altcoins like SHIB. However, the market remains cautious following last year's crash, limiting large-scale inflows into high-risk meme assets. Analysts suggest that for SHIB to break its current resistance and potentially stage a more significant rally, Bitcoin would need to decisively surpass the $94,000 level, boosting overall market confidence.
