PEPE token is hogging the headlines, and for the right reasons.

PEPE token price rose on Thursday, continuing to recover from previous setbacks as speculators clocked up huge trading volumes on the meme coin.

Here's what's moving in the market.

What Happened: PEPE surged by 16% today, closing a Cup & Handle chart pattern that enabled it to recuperate and improve on previous setbacks. Speculators rushed in, pushing spot trading volume to nearly $4 billion. That outpaced Dogecoin's $2.84 billion by about $1.10 billion. Among top trading coins, $Pepe ranked No.5 in terms of trading Volume. marked 3.9B today. We are back. — M Barbara (@Barbara_KVH) May 9, 2025Among top trading coins, $Pepe ranked No.5 in terms of trading Volume. marked 3.9B today. We are back.

According to data, PEPE's smart-contract trades reached $5.74 billion in derivatives today. That is up 280% from yesterday. Dogecoin continues to dominate futures with $6.60 billion volume and a solid Open Interest funding rate—the highest since February 2025. DOGE shorts lost $14 million in liquidations, which is about $3 million less than losses for PEPE shorts.

Related Link: How To Buy Pepe (PEPE) Tokens

On-chain analysis from LookOnChain reveals that a single large wallet, known for previous transactions, has again added 500 billion PEPE tokens to its holdings. At today's prices, this batch of tokens is valued at $4.36 million.

This whale just bought 500B $PEPE($4.36M) again and currently holds 2T $PEPE($17.42M).

Now, this whale owns 1.5 trillion tokens, which accrues to approximately $18.6 million at today's rate of $0.0000123. Such transactions can drive prices higher but can also spark sudden sell-offs.

On-Chain Indicators Send Mixed Signals

Latest data indicates Chaikin Money Flow on the PEPE/USDT pair went positive on May 6, 2025. That suggests cash is flowing back into the coin as geopolitical tensions subside. However, network growth indicators remain down. Fewer new wallets are entering the PEPE party. In other words, the rally might be more fueled by large traders swapping bags rather than new users piling in.

The overall supply of PEPE is around 420 trillion tokens, which is a massive amount. Even a fraction of that selling off could swamp exchanges. Coins with tighter supplies don't require as much buzz to maintain their price. PEPE has risen by over 112% this month, but big supplies mean big gains can turn just as quickly.

Bitcoin Boost Fuels Retail Interest

Meanwhile, Bitcoin surged over $104,000 today. That level tends to attract more retail traders into the market. If retail is confident, they go after smaller coins afterward. That might drive PEPE higher if traders believe that the meme rally has legs to it. But it also increases the risk of a sharp pullback if Bitcoin loses steam.

What Investors Should Watch

Price action on meme coins can fluctuate wildly. Large volumes and whale purchases fuel headlines but do not always mean sustained growth. Look for changes in open interest, new wallet activity, and any adjustments in Bitcoin's price. If PEPE stays above that Cup & Handle breakout point, it might hang around. If not, today's surge might be all the pleasant news we get.

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This article was written by Benzinga and adapted by Benzinga's Real Money Topics to highlight the investment opportunities presented in Sean Brodner's "The Brodner Report" newsletter. Sean's insights are focused on identifying small-cap and mid-cap stocks poised for significant growth. For a limited time, readers can claim a special offer to subscribe to the newsletter and receive valuable investment recommendations.