Meme Coins Lead Market Recovery
While major cryptocurrencies posted modest gains, meme tokens significantly outperformed with PEPE surging 67% and several others posting double-digit gains.
What happened: While major cryptocurrencies posted modest gains, meme tokens significantly outperformed with PEPE surging 67% and several others posting double-digit gains. The global crypto market cap reached $3.16 trillion (+1.5%) as Bitcoin ETFs recorded $471 million in net inflows on the first trading day of 2026.
Why it matters: The meme coin outperformance suggests retail interest remains strong despite institutional focus on bitcoin and ethereum. The substantial ETF inflows indicate institutional appetite continues growing, creating a two-tier market dynamic between retail speculation and institutional accumulation.
Source: Decrypt