The meme coin rally is back on, with PEPE and WIF up double digits in 24 hours. Broader crypto market excitement is driving speculative appetite as retail traders are back in the meme coin game in force.
Over the weekend, PEPE went up 11.6% with over $2.3 billion in daily trading volume according to CoinGecko. WIF (Dogwifhat) is close behind at 11.4%, while FLOKI and BONK are up 9.4% and 10.4% respectively. Even lesser known tokens like FARTCOIN were up 10.7% as this meme coin rally isn’t limited to top names.
Broader Crypto Optimism Fuels Meme Coin Gains
This comes as the entire crypto market is regaining momentum. Bitcoin broke above $106,000 on Sunday and is close to all time highs. Part of this strength is believed to be coming from consistent inflows into US based spot Bitcoin ETFs, seen as a strong indicator of institutional confidence.
In a recent investor note, QCP Capital said digital assets are “positioned for further upside” due to growing passive flows and macroeconomic factors like renewed inflation concerns. While Bitcoin and Ethereum are up, it’s the meme coin rally that’s getting retail attention again.

Why Meme Coins Are Back in Focus
Meme coins thrive on two things: online virality and speculative demand. After a brief lull following Donald Trump’s inauguration in January, retail enthusiasm faded. That period saw meme coins bleed value as profit taking and caution took over.
But as of mid-May, sentiment is shifting. With PEPE and WIF leading the way, there’s a notable increase in daily trading activity, a sign of rising retail interest. PEPE’s daily volume of over $2 billion shows it’s not just short-term flipping; its speculative conviction is coming back in full.
BONK and FLOKI are also benefiting from the renewed hype, up steadily alongside social buzz on X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit. Meme coins may not have utility but their community driven nature continues to drive liquidity when sentiment aligns.
PEPE’s Rebound Isn’t Just Hype – Here’s Why
According to market officials, PEPE’s not just up because of price, but the volume of activity it is getting. On-chain data from Santiment shows a surge in active addresses and social mentions over the past 3 days. High engagement rates often precede trading activity in speculative assets and PEPE is following that pattern.
Senor analysts have also aired that meme coins are sentiment amplifiers in crypto, they reflect speculative cycles in real time. PEPE’s trading this week is proving that.
Institutional Quiet, Retail Loud
One of the trends in this meme coin rally is the difference between institutional behavior and retail action. While inflows into ETFs and blue-chip crypto funds continue, institutions are staying away from meme coins due to their high risk profile.
However for retail traders looking for volatility and quick returns, meme coins are attractive. The liquidity into PEPE and WIF shows retail capital is flowing into speculative parts of the market again, often a sign of bigger things to come.
Crypto trader and influencer Satoshi Flipper said, “Meme coin sector is crypto’s barometer for euphoria. When the frogs and dogs run, something bigger might be coming.”

Can This Rally Hold?
Despite the hype, analysts are cautious. Meme coin rallies have short lifespans, often peaking in days before big reversals. It all depends on the crypto market, especially Bitcoin and Ethereum.
A drop in BTC could drain liquidity from meme assets as fast as it poured in. But with macro sentiment improving and more inflows into crypto funds, there’s room for meme coins to ride this wave a bit longer.
According to CoinGlass data, open interest in meme coin perpetual futures rose 17% over the weekend, so more speculative bets but also higher risk of liquidation cascades.
Conclusion
Meme coin rally, led by PEPE, WIF and BONK, is back on as retail traders pour into high volatility assets. Institutions are staying in blue chip cryptos and ETFs, meme coins are the playground for risk takers.
Whether this rally holds depends on the broader market and social sentiment, but for now meme coins are back in the spotlight. As daily volumes surge and online chatter gets louder, the next few days will test how much fuel this speculative fire has.
FAQs
What’s driving this meme coin rally?
Renewed retail interest, high volumes and broader crypto bull run.
Why PEPE and WIF?
Both have high liquidity and strong community backing, perfect for speculative trading during times of optimism.
Is this meme coin rally sustainable?
Meme coin rallies are short-lived. Sustainability depends on the broader crypto market, especially Bitcoin.
How does social media impact meme coin?
Social media drives meme coins by creating hype and community engagement which equals more volume.
Are institutions in this meme coin rally?
Officials say this is retail-driven as Institutions naturally stay away from meme coins due to high risk.
Glossary
Meme Coin: A coin with no real value or use and only popular because of internet memes and social media.
PEPE: A meme token inspired by the “Pepe the Frog” meme, known for price swings and big online following.
WIF (Dogwifhat): A Solana-based meme token that got popular because of its funny branding and meme culture.
Trading Volume: The total amount of a coin traded in a given time frame to measure interest and liquidity.
Retail Traders: Individual investors who trade with personal funds, not institutional capital.
Sources
Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only and not investment or legal advice. Please consult a financial advisor before investing.