Pepe (PEPE) has surged into the top 20 tokens by market capitalization, fueled by a narrative of being a "beta bet," resulting in nearly a 40% increase in the past week, according to CoinMarketCap data.
Initially issued in April 2023, Pepe swiftly soared to a $1 billion market capitalization shortly after its launch, solidifying its position as a prominent meme coin. As of Thursday, its market capitalization has surged to $6 billion, making it the standout meme coin launch of 2023.
Pepe's Surge: Leveraging Ethereum's Growth Amid ETF Anticipation
Pepe's recent surge, alongside mog (MOG), is attributed to its role as a leveraged bet on the expansion of the Ethereum ecosystem. Traders anticipate the approval of a spot ether exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the U.S., further bolstering Pepe's appeal.
An on-chain analysis by Lookonchain reveals that an address, which initially invested approximately $460 in Pepe tokens shortly after its launch, has reaped over $3.4 million in profits this week. The buyer purchased 324.9 billion PEPE tokens for 0.22 ETH on April 15, 2023, and subsequently deposited them to crypto exchange Binance, presumably for selling.
It remains unclear whether the address is associated with Pepe's developer team. However, the use of automated bots is common among meme coin traders, who strategically invest small amounts in various tokens, hoping for significant returns.
Some traders foresee Pepe eventually surpassing the market capitalization of the dog-themed Shiba Inu (SHIB), currently valued at $14 billion as of Thursday. Pepe's early investors have already generated substantial wealth, with several millionaires minted within the past year.
Conclusion: PEPE's Phenomenal Growth
Pepe's remarkable ascent from obscurity to the top 20 tokens highlights the speculative nature of the cryptocurrency market. With early investors reaping extraordinary profits and the token's market capitalization continuing to climb, Pepe remains a focal point for traders and investors alike, symbolizing the potential for substantial gains in the volatile crypto landscape.