Pepe (PEPE) is once again commanding market attention as the popular meme coin posts explosive gains to kick off the new year.
The token surged more than 34% in the first 48 hours of 2026, driving weekly gains above 51% and signaling a sharp return of speculative appetite across the crypto landscape while placing Pepe among the sector’s top gainers.
The rally coincides with renewed strength across the broader market, as Bitcoin reclaimed the $90,000 level and Ethereum pushed firmly above $3,000.
Still, the meme coin sector led the charge. In a single day, the total meme coin market capitalization expanded by roughly $3 billion, prompting analysts to question whether a full-scale “meme season” has officially begun in 2026.
Pepe quickly took center stage, ranking as the second most visited meme coin and reinforcing its reputation as a high-octane, high-volatility asset during the current market surge.
As momentum grows around the Pepe ecosystem, investors are also turning their focus to Pepenode, a related project that adds utility beyond simple price speculation. Some traders now consider it one of the best meme coins to buy.
Source – 99Bitcoins YouTube Channel
Pepe Price Prediction
From a performance perspective, PEPE has dominated the opening days of 2026, surging roughly 34% on the day and nearly 51% over the week.
The move recovered a large portion of recent losses and drew strength from a dramatic 600% spike in trading volume, highlighting the intensity of renewed speculative demand.
High-profile endorsements accelerated the rally and shifted the narrative from a short-term technical breakout to a long-term supercycle thesis.
Crypto analyst Davie Satoshi energized the community with a widely shared PEPE chart. His analysis presents PEPE’s current price action as a multi-wave expansion rather than a temporary pump, with long-term dominance as the central theme.
Legendary trader James Wynn, who correctly called PEPE’s initial 2023 run, reinforced the bullish outlook on January 2 by going viral with a bold $69 billion market-cap target. That projection implies a price near $0.000163, representing a potential 32x upside from current levels.
Historically, Pepe has acted as a “new-generation OG,” reigniting retail interest in meme coins much like Dogecoin did in earlier cycles. Its parabolic rise in 2024 helped reset the sector’s floor, and its widespread brand recognition now positions it as the primary vehicle for high-octane growth heading into 2026.
Technical indicators, however, signal both strength and risk. After PEPE broke above the $0.0000055 resistance level, momentum metrics such as RSI and Bollinger Bands began signaling overbought conditions.
These readings confirm aggressive buying pressure but also increase the probability of near-term volatility as the price digests gains before attempting another leg higher.
With a previous all-time high near $10 billion, many investors expect Pepe’s cultural relevance and liquidity momentum to drive it toward the multi-billion-dollar targets outlined by analysts if favorable market conditions persist.
Pepe Price Surge Sparks Meme Coin Rally as Pepenode Emerges as a Top Meme Coin for 2026
While PEPE offers exposure to an established meme coin, many experienced traders now look for early-stage projects that could benefit even more from a meme coin rebound.
Pepenode stands out as one of the first multi-million-dollar projects expected to exit its presale in 2026, positioning it well for a potential meme coin rally.
Unlike most meme coins, Pepenode (PEPENODE) mixes meme culture with real utility. The project lets users mine meme coins through a Web3 browser game.
Instead of simply holding tokens and hoping for price increases, players buy digital mining nodes inside the game, upgrade them, and earn rewards through gameplay and strategy. Rewards come in $PEPENODE, PEPE, and FARTCOIN, creating multiple earning paths.
Pepenode also uses a deflationary token model that appeals to cycle-focused investors. The system permanently burns 70% of all $PEPENODE tokens spent on upgrades, while token emissions decrease over time, mirroring real mining economics rather than unlimited supply growth.
With just five days left in its presale and exchange listings on the horizon, analysts expect increased attention once the broader market discovers the project. Pepenode has already raised around $2.5 million, and the presale still offers a final entry price of $0.0012161 for early buyers.
Investors can purchase $PEPENODE directly through the Pepenode presale website using cryptocurrencies or payment cards. Buyers can connect using major wallets, including Best Wallet, which many consider one of the best crypto and Bitcoin wallets available today.
To further strengthen trust, Coinsult has fully audited Pepenode’s smart contract, giving early supporters added confidence in the project’s security and development.
Visit Pepenode
This article has been provided by one of our commercial partners and does not reflect Cryptonomist’s opinion. Please be aware our commercial partners may use affiliate programs to generate revenues through the links on this article.