Memecoins Kick Off 2026 With a Surge in Momentum

[tradelikepro]

Memecoins like Pepe, Bonk, and Dogecoin were among Friday’s strongest performers as traders rotated into high-beta assets ahead of 2026. The total memecoin market capitalization jumped 8% in 24 hours to $39.45 billion, marking a two-week high and adding roughly $3 billion in value across the sector.

Ethereum-based Pepe led the charge with a 23.6% daily gain, followed by Solana’s Bonk at +10% and Dogecoin at +8%. The move coincided with renewed influencer-driven optimism and bold “meme season” predictions for 2026, reinforcing how sentiment and attention continue to play an outsized role in this corner of the market.

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rotating into high beta makes sense but man, these setups unwind so fast when sentiment shifts