The Next Big Crypto: Apeing, Shiba Inu, and Peanut the Squirrel in the Institutional Shift

The crypto market's institutional shift has long been a narrative centered on Bitcoin and Ethereum. But in 2025, a new story is emerging: altcoins like Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT) are capturing institutional and whale attention, signaling undervalued assets in a rapidly evolving landscape. With on-chain activity, whale movements, and narrative-driven momentum, these tokens are rewriting the rules of what constitutes "institutional-grade" confidence in crypto.

Shiba Inu: From Meme to Institutional Target

Shiba Inu, the doge-inspired token, has seen a dramatic uptick in institutional and whale activity. In a single day in late 2025, SHIB recorded 406 whale transfers above $100k, the highest in six months according to data. This surge coincided with 1.06 trillion SHIB tokens moving onto exchanges, hinting at potential volatility but also repositioning by major holders. Meanwhile, over 4.1 trillion SHIB tokens left exchanges in recent weeks, suggesting long-term accumulation and reduced sell-side pressure.

These movements align with a bullish technical setup: a wedge breakout and retest of key resistance levels according to technical analysis. While SHIB's utility remains limited, its tokenomics and community-driven governance have created a flywheel effect. Institutional interest is further fueled by its role as a "bridge" between meme culture and DeFi, with projects like ShibaSwap gaining traction.

Peanut the Squirrel: Meme Meets Institutional Curiosity

Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT), a Solana-based meme coin, has become a case study in narrative-driven adoption. Despite lacking a formal roadmap according to market analysis, PNUT's price is projected to reach $0.2166 by year-end 2025 and $0.2765 by 2030, based on a 5% annual growth rate according to price predictions. This optimism is driven by whale activity and NFT collaborations. For instance, one whale spent 5,100 SOL to acquire 8.99 million PNUT tokens, signaling confidence in the project's long-term potential.

PNUT's institutional-grade appeal stems from its community-driven initiatives. Whale staking, NFT drops with animal rescue themes, and decentralized governance have created a hybrid of meme virality and utility according to market reports. However, the token's journey hasn't been smooth. Legal tensions between the original squirrel's owner and the community led to a temporary decline in value according to news reports, yet the project rebounded, fueled by public outrage over the real-life squirrel's euthanasia-a viral moment that amplified its cultural footprint according to community analysis.

The Broader Altcoin Landscape: Utility vs. Sentiment

While SHIB and PNUT thrive on narrative and whale activity, other undervalued altcoins are gaining traction through fundamentals. Ondo (ONDO), for example, is tokenizing real-world assets (RWAs) like US Treasuries and has secured $690 million in locked assets via BlackRock's BUIDL fund according to market reports. Similarly, Ethena (ENA)'s synthetic dollar (USDe) grew from $3 billion to $12 billion in mid-2025, leveraging funding rates and staking rewards to generate cash flows according to financial data. Jupiter (JUP), Solana's dominant DEX aggregator, controls 80% of liquidity yet trades at a modest market cap relative to its dominance according to market analysis.

These projects highlight a duality in the altcoin market: utility-driven tokens (like ONDO and ENA) and sentiment-driven meme coins (like SHIB and PNUT). Both categories present opportunities, but the latter's success hinges on sustaining community engagement and introducing tangible utility-such as DeFi integrations or NFT ecosystems according to industry experts.

Risks and Rewards in the Institutional Shift

The institutional adoption of altcoins isn't without risks. PNUT's price predictions vary widely, with some forecasts suggesting a 25% decline by early 2026 according to market analysis, while others project steady growth according to price forecasts. Similarly, SHIB's reliance on whale sentiment makes it vulnerable to sudden sell-offs. However, the same volatility that scares traditional investors excites those who view altcoins as speculative plays with high upside.

For institutions, the key is balancing exposure. Whale activity and on-chain metrics such as reduced exchange outflows offer data-driven signals, while projects like PNUT require a tolerance for narrative risk. The broader lesson? The institutional shift isn't just about Bitcoin-it's about identifying undervalued assets in a market where sentiment, utility, and whale behavior collide.

Conclusion

Shiba Inu and Peanut the Squirrel exemplify the new frontier of institutional crypto adoption. While their paths differ-one rooted in tokenomics, the other in meme virality-both are driven by whale activity and community momentum. As the market matures, investors must weigh these signals against fundamentals, recognizing that the next big crypto story may not come from a traditional "blue-chip" but from the underdogs rewriting the rules.