Shiba Inu (SHIB) posted a 2.52% gain in the last 24 hours, reaching $0.000006025 ahead of the critical U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) report scheduled for release on Friday, February 13. The broader cryptocurrency market is positioning for this key inflation metric, with a consensus expectation of 2.5%. A reading at or below consensus could strengthen the current rally in altcoins, while higher-than-expected inflation would likely trigger profit-taking across risk assets.
Technically, SHIB has built a consolidation zone between $0.0000055 and $0.000006, with resistance near $0.0000065. The token's movement is correlated with Ethereum, positioning it as a leveraged play on broader smart contract platform sentiment. On-chain data indicates reduced seller pressure, with large holders maintaining their positions.
Looking further ahead, SHIB's 2026 price trajectory is increasingly linked to the adoption and technological upgrades of its Layer-2 network, Shibarium. A significant privacy upgrade is anticipated in Q2 2026, backed by cryptography firm Zama. The planned implementation of Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) could transform Shibarium into a fully on-chain privacy platform, potentially boosting adoption in sectors like gaming and DeFi and driving long-term demand for SHIB.
However, current price action remains fragile. SHIB is trading around $0.00000500, with momentum indicators like the RSI in the low-30s suggesting bearish conditions. Immediate support lies between $0.00000480 and $0.00000490, while resistance sits at $0.00000520-$0.00000530. The lack of substantial growth in Shibarium's active addresses and user engagement metrics currently hinders SHIB's price recovery, making ecosystem adoption a critical factor for future movements.
