Coindesk Logo

PEPE and WIF Jump 50%, Putting Ethereum and Solana Meme Coins in Focus

PEPE and WIF Jump 50%, Putting Ethereum and Solana Meme Coins in Focus

PEPE and WIF Jump 50%, Putting Ethereum and Solana Meme Coins in Focus

The category has gained more than 13% on average in the past 24 hours, CoinGecko data shows.

The category has gained more than 13% on average in the past 24 hours, CoinGecko data shows.

The category has gained more than 13% on average in the past 24 hours, CoinGecko data shows.

AccessTimeIconFeb 27, 2024, 2:02 PM
Updated Mar 8, 2024, 10:15 PM
dogwifhat (dogwifhat)
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global event for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now

Prominent meme tokens on Ethereum and Solana ecosystems, such as PEPE and WIF, have rallied significantly, gaining up to 51% in the past 24 hours.

The surge in meme coins is seen as a way to bet on the growth of a blockchain and is spreading to tokens on other networks, with an average gain of 13% in the past 24 hours.

Prominent meme tokens of the Ethereum and Solana ecosystem rallied on Tuesday as the sector is quickly gaining prominence among crypto enthusiasts as a way to bet on the growth of a blockchain.

Pepe (PEPE), the frog-themed meme token on Ethereum, was up as much as 51% in the past 24 hours to reach price levels previously seen in May. Bonk, the dog-themed token on Solana, was up as much as 25% before retreating in European afternoon hours on Tuesday. The CD20, a measure of the broader market, added 6%.

The Solana-based Dogwifhat (WIF) zoomed over 65% before giving back some gains. Meanwhile, The CoinDesk 20 Index (CD20), a benchmark for the biggest and most liquid cryptocurrencies, jumped nearly 8%.

Futures tracking pepe tokens saw less than $5 million in liquidated bets, suggesting the price surge was mostly driven by spot demand.

Such price action could spread to meme tokens on other networks, with several meme tokens zooming since Monday night. The category has gained more than 13% on average in the past 24 hours, CoinGecko data shows.

The meme coin rally comes as ether (ETH), and Solana’s SOL gained more than 8% in the past 24 hours as bitcoin (BTC) topped the $57,000 mark for the first time since November 2021.

Such tokens are usually considered to have no intrinsic value – have recently risen in prominence as a beta bet on whichever ecosystem they are based on. Some, like the Avalanche Foundation, a non-profit that maintains the Avalanche blockchain, have even started to invest in meme tokens built on the network in recognition of the online culture and memetic value that such tokens can drive among investors.

Some say meme coins are also a profitable, albeit risky, way to gain from ecosystem growth.

“While meme tokens have been out of the narrative, they often pump following blue chip rallies, and traders reposition from ETH and BTC to altcoins,” Nick Ruck, COO of ContentFi Labs, told CoinDesk in a Telegram message.

Meanwhile, at least six wallets sold over $4 million worth of PEPE tokens early Tuesday, contributing to some selling pressure.

“6 wallets sold 1.98T $PEPE($4.37M) to take profits, with a total profit of ~$2M,” analysis firm Lookonchain posted. “5 wallets (possibly belonging to the same person) deposited 1.5T $PEPE($3.3M) to $Binance, making $1.49M(+82%).”

Edited by

Disclosure

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.

Shaurya is the Deputy Managing Editor for the Data & Tokens team, focusing on decentralized finance, markets, on-chain data, and governance across all major and minor blockchains.


Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.