In brief
- Meme coins Pepe, Bonk, and Shiba Inu led a speculative charge, with double-digit gains, as Bitcoin pushed above $90,000.
- Macro factors like rate cuts could fuel a “risk-on” 2026, but some have warned meme coin rallies are poor signals due to low liquidity.
- Market sentiment remains split, with prediction market optimism at a 2026 high while the broader Crypto Fear & Greed Index stays in “Fear.”
Meme coins are surging amid renewed interest in the sector, as Bitcoin continues to grind higher for the start of the year.
Leading the charge are Bonk, Pepe, and Shiba Inu, posting 24-hour gains of over 20%, 14%, and 10%, respectively, according to CoinGecko data. On a weekly basis, however, Pepe leads with a 70% rally, followed by Bonk at 48% and Dogecoin at 22%.
The resurgence in crypto’s riskier assets coincides with a stabilizing Bitcoin.
The top crypto has closed higher for four consecutive days, pushing past the pivotal $90,000 mark after several failed attempts in late 2025.
Bitcoin’s drive this time, however, is backed by a substantial uptick in the aggregated open interest, which has surged to $31.44 billion, a six-week high, according to CryptoQuant.
Sustained rate-cutting cycle, disinflation, and new U.S. access to strategic resources like Venezuelan oil as factors that could be coalescing to support risk assets, according to Derek Lim, head of research at crypto market-making firm Caladan.
“All the above when viewed in tandem may prelude to a shift towards a more risk-on sentiment in 2026,” Lim told Decrypt. “Perhaps the current price movements are attempting to price all these in.”
He urged caution, however, in interpreting the meme coin rally as a definitive signal.
“I will hesitate to read this as the market shifting into a more risk-on mode,” Lim said. “Meme coin pumps can be relatively easily manufactured by a multitude of factors, such as low liquidity, extremely low float, so it may not necessarily represent any larger shifts in momentum/attitudes with regard to the broader market.”
Retail sentiment mirrors that cautiously optimistic stance.
Users on prediction market Myriad—owned by Decrypt’s parent company, Dastan—now assign an 82% chance that Bitcoin hits $100,000 before $69,000, up from 62% at the start of the year.
The recovery is not limited to meme coins; other top altcoins, including Hyperliquid, Hedera, Aster, and XRP, have also surged by roughly 5% over 24 hours.
Still, the Crypto Fear & Greed Index suggests that, despite the hot streak in meme coins, the broader psychological recovery from the 2025 downturn is not yet complete.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
The Crypto Fear and Greed Index rose to 16, and market panic sentiment eased slightly
Gate News update: On April 12, according to Alternative Data, today’s Crypto Fear and Greed Index is 16 (15 yesterday), and market panic sentiment has eased slightly. The index runs on a threshold of 0-100 and is calculated from six indicators: volatility (25%), market trading volume (25%), social media buzz (15%), market survey (15%), Bitcoin’s share of the entire market (10%), and Google keyword trend analysis (10%).
GateNews4h ago
Market Overreactions? MicroStrategy Founder: Bitcoin Has Hit Bottom, Quantum Threats Are Overblown Concerns
Michael Saylor asserted that Bitcoin has already completed a bottoming process when it reached $60k, and he believes concerns about threats from quantum computers are overstated. He predicts that in the future, Bitcoin will become the core of a digital credit system, and he noted that the market’s selling pressure is limited, which could help drive a new bull market. Mizuho also gave a positive assessment of the company’s future performance.
CryptoCity5h ago
BTC 15-minute drop of 0.45%: Aggressive sell-side orders lead, layered with weakening liquidity at the margin, amplifying volatility
2026-04-11 23:00 to 2026-04-11 23:15（UTC）, BTC’s return over 15 minutes was -0.45%, and the price fluctuated within the range of 72907.4 to 73370.7 USDT, with a swing amplitude of 0.63%. During this period, market activity remains at a high level, but the price anomaly has drawn investors’ short-term attention. Overall trading sentiment is slightly cautious, and volatility is marginally higher than usual.
The main driver behind this anomaly is that active sell orders have a slight advantage, causing a short-term downward adjustment in price. Combined with a modest increase in trading volume for major trading pairs and spot
GateNews6h ago
Market in Excessive Panic? MicroStrategy Founder: Bitcoin Has Bottomed, Quantum Threats Are Overblown Worry
Michael Saylor asserts that Bitcoin has finished bottoming out when it hit $60k, and he believes concerns about threats from quantum computers are overblown. He predicts that in the future, Bitcoin will become the core of a digital credit system, and he notes that there is limited selling pressure in the market, which could help drive a new bull run. Mizuho also has a positive assessment of the company’s future performance.
CryptoCity8h ago
Market panic too much? MicroStrategy founder: Bitcoin has hit bottom, quantum threats are unfounded worry
Michael Saylor asserts that Bitcoin has already finished bottoming out at $60k, and believes concerns about threats from quantum computers are overstated. He predicts that in the future, Bitcoin will become the core of a digital credit system, and also noted that there is limited selling pressure in the market, which could drive a new bull cycle. Mizuho has a positive assessment of its company’s future performance.
CryptoCity12h ago
