Whales Return to PEPE DOGE SHIB as Meme Coins See Double Digit Gains

On May 9, 2025, the meme coin market experienced a significant resurgence, with PEPE, Dogecoin (DOGE), and Shiba Inu (SHIB) leading a sharp rally. This unexpected surge reignited nostalgic sentiment, fueled Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO), and attracted new investors to the cryptocurrency space. The rally shifted the perception of a sector often dismissed as purely speculative.

Bolstered by Bitcoin's price exceeding $100,000, meme tokens demonstrated renewed strength, transcending their comedic origins to become significant market drivers.

PEPE's Remarkable 30% Intraday Surge

PEPE Coin, the frog-themed cryptocurrency that surprised markets in 2023, spearheaded the rally with a stunning 30.2% increase in 24 hours. Trading at $0.00000238, its 24-hour trading volume skyrocketed by 240% to $2.36 billion, while open interest reached $531 million—its highest since its all-time high last year.

Analyst Jared King commented, "This isn't just a pump—it's a liquidity storm. PEPE is experiencing institutional-level activity within a meme coin framework."

Investor enthusiasm was further amplified by large-scale investments from whale wallets and increased listings on centralized exchanges (CEXs) in Latin America and Asia.

Dogecoin's 8% Gain and Trendline Breakout

DOGE, the pioneering meme coin, also performed strongly, rising 8.4% to $0.182. This breakthrough surpassed a significant descending trendline resistance that had constrained bullish momentum for months. Trading volume surged 144% to $1.8 billion, pushing its market capitalization above $30 billion.

DOGE's price strength is attributed to:

• Renewed retail investor interest on Robinhood.
• X (formerly Twitter) tipping integrations.
• Increased wallet activity from previously dormant addresses.

On-chain analyst Priya Malhotra stated, "Dogecoin is more than just a meme; it's a market indicator. When DOGE moves, traders take notice."

SHIB's Bullish Breakout Above 50-Day SMA

Shiba Inu (SHIB) saw an 8.1% price increase, reaching $0.0000273, with trading volume jumping 140% to $383 million. This rally propelled SHIB above its 50-day simple moving average (SMA), a key technical indicator suggesting further upward potential.

SHIB's momentum is linked to:

• Accelerated burn rate within the Shibarium ecosystem.
• DeFi integration updates.
• Growing Total Value Locked (TVL) across SHIB-related decentralized applications (dApps).

SHIB's market cap now stands at $8.62 billion, with daily unique wallet transactions increasing, according to Etherscan.

Meme Coin Market Overview

The May 9th rally extended beyond PEPE, DOGE, and SHIB. The entire meme coin sector experienced growth:

The total meme coin market cap surged to $62.52 billion, with overall trading volume increasing by 129% in a single day.

Factors Contributing to the Rally

Analysts attribute the meme coin surge to several bullish factors:

• Bitcoin's Breakout Above $100,000: Bitcoin's price surge fueled a risk-on sentiment across the crypto market.
• Short Liquidations on Altcoins: Over $800 million in liquidations of short positions freed up capital.
• Increased CEX Listings and Retail Participation: New listings and increased demand (especially in Turkey and India) boosted trading volume.
• Social Media Momentum: Trending hashtags amplified the rally's viral spread.

Trader Elena Cortes remarked, "Every bull cycle has a meme moment. This could be the first of 2025."

Market Outlook: Short-Term Enthusiasm or Long-Term Shift?

While meme coin rallies are inherently volatile, some analysts believe 2025 might signify a more mature phase. Institutional investors are cautiously exploring meme coin derivatives, and projects like SHIB and FLOKI are expanding into practical DeFi applications.

However, caution remains. Whale tracking platforms indicate significant token inflows to exchanges, potentially signaling upcoming profit-taking.

Crypto strategist Ahmed Naseer commented, "For meme coins to sustain this momentum, they need utility and strong ecosystem support. Otherwise, it's a zero-sum game."

Future Outlook for PEPE, DOGE, and SHIB

• PEPE: A price move above the $0.000003 resistance level could signal a potential rise towards last year's all-time high.
• DOGE: Maintaining a price above $0.185 could lead to a test of the psychologically significant $0.20 level.
• SHIB: Momentum indicators suggest a short-term push towards $0.00003, particularly if Shibarium upgrades progress as planned.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Why did meme coins rally on May 9, 2025? Bitcoin's price exceeding $100,000 triggered bullish sentiment, short liquidations, and renewed retail speculation in meme coins.
• Is this rally sustainable? Short-term gains are often driven by hype, but long-term sustainability hinges on utility, ecosystem upgrades, and institutional adoption.
• What's next for PEPE Coin? PEPE could test higher resistance levels if trading volume and whale activity remain robust. However, it faces resistance at $0.000003.
• Is SHIB still burning tokens? Yes, Shibarium's burn mechanisms continue to reduce the circulating supply, potentially boosting price momentum.
• **Can DOGE reclaim $0.20 soon?** If current volume and technical momentum persist, DOGE may test the $0.20 mark—a key psychological barrier.

Glossary of Key Terms

• PEPE Coin: A popular meme cryptocurrency featuring the internet frog meme, known for its volatility and community-driven price swings.
• DOGE (Dogecoin): The original meme coin, created in 2013, now possessing significant market presence and retail adoption.
• SHIB (Shiba Inu): An Ethereum-based meme coin launched as a "Dogecoin killer," featuring its own DeFi ecosystem (Shibarium).
• Meme Coin: A cryptocurrency inspired by internet memes or jokes, often community-driven and highly speculative.
• Bullish Reversal: A market trend shifting from downward to upward movement, signaling renewed buying interest.
• Open Interest: The total number of active derivative contracts (futures or options), indicating market engagement.
• Trendline Resistance: A technical analysis term for price levels an asset struggles to surpass.
• Shibarium: A Layer-2 blockchain developed by the SHIB team to improve scalability and reduce transaction costs.

Sources and References

• Crypto Times – PEPE Pumps 30%
• CoinMarketCap – PEPE, SHIB, DOGE Live Prices
• Lookonchain – Whale Activity Tracker
• Etherscan – SHIB Metrics