Investors Shift Focus as Meme Coin Innovation Drives New Wave

Shiba Inu (SHIB) has seen a slowdown in growth, with analysts projecting only modest gains for the remainder of 2025. At a current price of $0.00001253, SHIB has experienced a nearly 4% decline over the past 24 hours, reflecting ongoing challenges posed by an oversaturated market of 590 trillion tokens [1]. Despite efforts such as aggressive burn campaigns—recently showing a 3465% increase in burn activity—the impact has been minimal in reducing the supply enough to trigger significant price appreciation [1]. Analysts suggest that SHIB may rise to $0.000015 at most by year-end, representing a possible 20–30% increase, which, while steady, is far from the explosive returns seen in earlier years [1].

Pepe Coin (PEPE), another meme-driven token, has shown a more vibrant short-term performance, currently trading at $0.000000001356 with a minor 0.04% rise in the last 24 hours [1]. Analysts, however, caution that PEPE may be nearing its peak, with expected gains of only 10–15% in the coming months. As the meme coin market becomes increasingly saturated, investor interest appears to be shifting toward newer projects, limiting PEPE’s potential for substantial returns for late entrants [1].

Emerging as a potential standout for 2025 is Little Pepe (LILPEPE), which has begun to capture attention through its Layer 2 infrastructure specifically designed for meme-based projects [1]. The project’s presale has been highly successful, with Stage 12 now underway at a price of $0.0021 and over 94% of tokens sold. Investors who entered at Stage 1 have already seen 110% gains, while those at the current stage could potentially see 43% returns if the listing price reaches $0.003 [1]. LILPEPE has also implemented strong security measures, including a CertiK audit and a zero-tax policy, which together help build trust and reduce barriers to entry for both small and large investors [1].

In a separate but related development, Layer Brett (LBRETT) has emerged as a high-risk, high-reward presale project on Ethereum Layer 2, drawing comparisons to established meme coins such as Shiba Inu and Cardano [3]. With a current presale price of $0.0055 and an 895% APY staking reward, the token has attracted both retail and institutional interest. The project’s roadmap includes plans for NFT integrations, gamified staking features, and cross-chain expansion, positioning it as a long-term play in the evolving meme coin space [3]. Analysts have noted that, unlike SHIB and PEPE, LBRETT’s infrastructure offers a stronger technical foundation, with the potential for 70x gains by 2026 according to certain projections [3].

Technical indicators for both SHIB and PEPE suggest a continuation of their current trajectories. SHIB has recently broken out of a descending triangle pattern on the 4-hour chart and is currently trading above the 100-period EMA at $0.00001244 [2]. A successful close above the 200-period EMA at $0.00001261 could see the coin move toward the R2 and R3 pivot levels. Meanwhile, PEPE has broken above a key resistance at $0.00001000 and is now targeting the 200-period EMA at $0.00001042 [2]. However, a drop below the $0.00001000 level would invalidate the recent bullish momentum and test the S1 pivot support at $0.00000934 [2].

While SHIB and PEPE continue to hold their positions in the market, the narrative is clearly shifting toward newer projects with stronger fundamentals and community engagement. Layer Brett, in particular, is being tipped as a potential breakout in the fourth quarter of 2025, driven by its Ethereum Layer 2 foundation and aggressive presale incentives. As the market matures, the focus is increasingly on projects that offer not just speculative potential but also robust infrastructure and sustainable growth strategies.

Source:

[1] Shiba Inu Price Prediction: SHIB to Take a Backseat as Pepe Coin (PEPE) and Little Pepe (LILPEPE) Shine Brighter in 2025 (https://captainaltcoin.com/shiba-inu-price-prediction-shib-to-take-a-backseat-as-pepe-coin-pepe-and-little-pepe-lilpepe-shine-brighter-in-2025/)

[2] Meme Coins Price Prediction: Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and ... (https://www.fxstreet.com/cryptocurrencies/news/meme-coins-price-prediction-dogecoin-shiba-inu-and-pepe-are-poised-for-a-rally-202509080454)

[3] Layer Brett Backed As The Best Crypto To Buy Now For ... (https://coincentral.com/layer-brett-backed-as-the-best-crypto-to-buy-now-for-the-highest-gains-over-cardano-shiba-inu/)