Memecoin Momentum in 2025: Can Shiba Inu Sustain Its Edge Over PEPE?

The memecoin market in 2025 remains a battleground of speculative fervor, with Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Pepe (PEPE) vying for dominance. While both tokens rely on social media hype and retail participation, their trajectories diverge sharply when analyzing on-chain whale activity and retail-driven dynamics. This article dissects the forces shaping their momentum, offering insights into whether SHIB can maintain its edge over PEPE.

Whale Activity: SHIB’s Institutional-Grade Accumulation

Shiba Inu has emerged as a standout in 2025, driven by aggressive whale accumulation. On-chain data reveals a 188% surge in SHIB transaction volumes over two days, signaling renewed interest from large investors [6]. This accumulation is further amplified by a staggering 48,000% spike in SHIB’s burn rate, reducing supply and reinforcing a bullish double-bottom pattern formed since May [6]. Such metrics suggest that SHIB’s price resilience stems from institutional-grade buying pressure, contrasting with PEPE’s weaker whale activity.

In contrast, PEPE faced a $4.8M whale sell-off in late August 2025, pushing its price to test the critical $0.00001 support level [5]. While PEPE’s whale activity remains neutral, SHIB’s active accumulation paints a starkly different picture. Analysts note that SHIB’s whale-driven dynamics provide a stronger near-term edge, particularly as both tokens approach key resistance levels in ascending triangles [1].

Retail Dynamics: PEPE’s Social Media Surge

Despite SHIB’s whale-driven strength, PEPE has outperformed in retail-driven metrics. Social media engagement for PEPE exploded in July 2025, with 1.5 million interactions across 22,800 posts—surpassing SHIB’s 791,600 interactions [4]. Additionally, PEPE’s 24-hour trading volume hit $295 million, more than double SHIB’s $120 million [2]. These figures underscore PEPE’s appeal as a short-term momentum play, fueled by retail traders capitalizing on viral trends.

Retail participation in SHIB, however, remains muted. LuckSide Crypto, a prominent analyst, highlights that only 5–6% of the global population is active in crypto, a level unchanged from previous cycles [1]. Without a surge in retail capital, SHIB is likely to remain range-bound, despite positive on-chain signals like whale accumulation and supply removal from exchanges [1]. Conversely, PEPE’s price behavior reflects classic meme coin dynamics, where social media attention drives rapid, albeit volatile, gains [5].

The Tension Between Institutional and Retail Forces

The divergence between SHIB and PEPE highlights a broader tension in the memecoin space: institutional-grade accumulation versus retail-driven social momentum. SHIB’s whale activity and burn campaigns suggest a path toward long-term value retention, but its massive supply and lack of utility remain headwinds [3]. Meanwhile, PEPE’s speculative nature and social media traction make it a high-risk, high-reward asset, with price swings tied to fleeting trends [5].

A critical question looms: Can SHIB’s whale-driven momentum translate into sustained retail adoption? Historically, memecoins thrive on viral cycles, and SHIB’s ecosystem has yet to demonstrate the innovation needed to attract broader adoption [6]. Conversely, PEPE’s ability to outperform in social metrics indicates its potential to capture retail sentiment, even if its fundamentals lag.

Conclusion: A Dual-Track Outlook

In 2025, SHIB and PEPE represent two distinct paths in the memecoin landscape. SHIB’s whale accumulation and burn rate offer a structural advantage, positioning it for a potential breakout if retail participation surges. However, PEPE’s social media dominance and retail-friendly volatility make it a formidable contender, particularly in a market where sentiment can shift overnight.

For investors, the key lies in balancing these dynamics. SHIB’s whale-driven narrative suggests a longer-term play, while PEPE’s retail-driven momentum suits short-term speculation. As the year progresses, the token that successfully bridges institutional and retail forces—whether through innovation, adoption, or viral cycles—will likely emerge as the true winner.

Source:
[1] PEPE vs Shiba Inu - Which memecoin has the edge right now [https://ambcrypto.com/pepe-vs-shiba-inu-which-memecoin-has-the-edge-right-now/]
[2] PEPE Beats Out Shiba Inu In Major Meme Coin Metric [https://coinpaper.com/10853/pepe-outperforms-shiba-inu-in-social-activity-with-1-5-m-interactions-and-583-m-volume]
[3] Why Shiba Inu Is Underperforming in 2025: Key Drivers [https://coincentral.com/why-shiba-inu-is-underperforming-in-2025-key-drivers-behind-shibs-struggles/]
[4] PEPE Beats Out Shiba Inu In Major Meme Coin Metric, Is [https://www.mitrade.com/insights/crypto-analysis/doge/bitcoinist-DOGEUSDSHIBUSDPEPEUSD-202509021422]
[5] Pepe price prediction: Will $0.00001 hold after whale ... [https://crypto.news/pepe-price-prediction-sept-3-2025-whale-dump-tests-support/]
[6] Shiba Inu Price Jumps 8% as Whale Activity and Burns ... [https://coinpedia.org/news/shiba-inu-price-jumps-8-as-whale-activity-and-burns-hint-at-59-rally/]