Meme coins are experiencing a significant surge, outpacing the broader cryptocurrency market, as Bitcoin stabilizes above $90,000. This rally highlights renewed risk-on sentiment amid improving macroeconomic conditions.
Leading Meme Coins Post Impressive Gains
Key players like Pepe, Bonk, and Shiba Inu have led the charge with substantial 24-hour increases. According to CoinGecko data:
- Bonk gained over 20%
- Pepe rose 14%
- Shiba Inu increased 10%
On a weekly basis, Pepe stands out with a 70% rally, followed by Bonk at 48% and Dogecoin at 22%.
Bitcoin's Role in the Rally
Bitcoin has closed higher for four consecutive days, breaking past the critical $90,000 mark after previous attempts failed in late 2025. This movement is supported by a surge in aggregated open interest, which reached $31.44 billion—a six-week high, as reported by CryptoQuant.
Macroeconomic Factors Fueling Optimism
Derek Lim, head of research at Caladan, points to several factors that could drive a risk-on sentiment in 2026:
- Sustained rate-cutting cycles
- Disinflation trends
- New U.S. access to strategic resources like Venezuelan oil
He suggests these elements may be coalescing to support risk assets, with current price movements potentially pricing in these developments.
Caution Advised on Meme Coin Signals
Despite the excitement, Lim urges caution in interpreting meme coin rallies as definitive market signals. He notes that low liquidity and extremely low float can easily manufacture such pumps, which may not reflect broader market shifts in momentum or attitudes.
Mixed Market Sentiment Indicators
Retail sentiment shows cautious optimism. On prediction market Myriad, users now assign an 82% chance that Bitcoin hits $100,000 before $69,000, up from 62% at the start of the year.
However, the broader psychological recovery remains incomplete. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index still indicates "Fear," suggesting that despite meme coin gains, the market hasn't fully rebounded from the 2025 downturn.
Altcoins Join the Rally
The recovery extends beyond meme coins. Other top altcoins, including Hyperliquid, Hedera, Aster, and XRP, have also surged by roughly 5% over 24 hours, indicating broader market participation in the uptrend.
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