Pepe (PEPE) and the Meme Coin Surge: Could This Viral Token Overtake Shiba Inu?

The meme coin market, once dismissed as a niche corner of cryptocurrency, has evolved into a high-stakes arena where virality, community sentiment, and speculative fervor dictate fortunes. Pepe (PEPE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB), two of the most prominent tokens in this space, have long been pitted against each other as symbols of the genre's potential and pitfalls. But as 2025 unfolds, a critical question emerges: Could PEPE, the viral token that surged in 2024, overtake SHIB in market dominance?

The PEPE Surge: Momentum and Limitations

PEPE's rise in 2024 was fueled by a perfect storm of social media hype and influencer endorsements. By September 2025, the token had surged 30% in a single month, trading at $0.00001066 and nearing its 2024 peak of $0.000028 Pepe Coin & Shiba Inu Could Have Its Early Gains Eclipsed By Remittix As PayFi Altcoin Takes Centre Stage^[1]. However, this momentum has plateaued. Analysts warn that PEPE's lack of tangible utility—unlike its counterpart SHIB—limits its long-term appeal. “PEPE remains a pure speculation play,” notes a report by CoinCentral, “with its value tethered to fleeting social media trends rather than infrastructure or ecosystem growth” Pepe Coin & Shiba Inu Could Have Its Early Gains Eclipsed By Remittix As PayFi Altcoin Takes Centre Stage^[1].

Shiba Inu, by contrast, has invested heavily in building a broader ecosystem. Projects like ShibaSwap, NFT initiatives, and the SHIBA Inu metaverse aim to provide utility beyond mere speculation Best Meme Coin to Buy in Q3 2025: Analysts Say Layer Brett Is Poised to Eclipse Pepe and Outshine Shibs Legacy^[2]. Yet SHIB's massive token supply—over 1 quadrillion coins—continues to act as a drag on price appreciation. As of Q3 2025, SHIB trades at $0.00001275, a modest gain but far from the explosive growth seen in 2023 Pepe Coin & Shiba Inu Could Have Its Early Gains Eclipsed By Remittix As PayFi Altcoin Takes Centre Stage^[1].

Investor Sentiment: A Shift Toward Utility

The meme coin landscape in 2025 is increasingly dominated by projects that blend virality with real-world applications. Tokens like Remittix (RTX) and Layer Brett (LBR) have captured investor attention by addressing tangible pain points. Remittix, for instance, offers PayFi services, enabling direct crypto-to-bank transfers in 30+ countries and supporting 40 cryptocurrencies Pepe Coin & Shiba Inu Could Have Its Early Gains Eclipsed By Remittix As PayFi Altcoin Takes Centre Stage^[1]. Its $24.8 million presale and listings on BitMart and LBANK underscore its potential to outperform traditional meme coins Pepe Coin & Shiba Inu Could Have Its Early Gains Eclipsed By Remittix As PayFi Altcoin Takes Centre Stage^[1].

Layer Brett, meanwhile, positions itself as a next-generation Layer 2 solution on Ethereum, promising low gas fees and fast transactions. Analysts predict it could eclipse PEPE and surpass SHIB in utility-driven growth Best Meme Coin to Buy in Q3 2025: Analysts Say Layer Brett Is Poised to Eclipse Pepe and Outshine Shibs Legacy^[2]. This shift reflects a broader trend: investors are prioritizing projects with infrastructure and use cases over tokens reliant solely on social media virality.

The “Coinbase Effect” and Market Dynamics

Exchange listings remain a critical catalyst for meme coin success. The “Coinbase effect” has been particularly pronounced in 2025, with tokens like Maxi Doge (MAXI) and PEPENODE experiencing price spikes after listings Best Meme Coin to Buy in Q3 2025: Analysts Say Layer Brett Is Poised to Eclipse Pepe and Outshine Shibs Legacy^[2]. However, neither PEPE nor SHIB has secured a major exchange listing in 2025, leaving them vulnerable to waning retail interest.

SHIB's ecosystem expansion, while ambitious, has yet to translate into meaningful price action. Whale selling activity and bearish technical indicators suggest growing skepticism among long-term holders Best Meme Coin to Buy in Q3 2025: Analysts Say Layer Brett Is Poised to Eclipse Pepe and Outshine Shibs Legacy^[2]. PEPE, meanwhile, faces the challenge of sustaining its viral momentum without a clear roadmap for utility.

Could PEPE Overtake SHIB?

For PEPE to surpass SHIB, it would need to address two critical gaps: utility and institutional credibility. While its recent surge demonstrates enduring retail appeal, the token lacks the infrastructure to sustain long-term value. SHIB's ecosystem, though underperforming, provides a framework for gradual growth.

However, the broader market's shift toward utility-driven projects complicates both tokens' trajectories. As Crypto-Economy highlights, “Layer Brett and Remittix are redefining the meme coin narrative by offering infrastructure and real-world adoption” Best Meme Coin to Buy in Q3 2025: Analysts Say Layer Brett Is Poised to Eclipse Pepe and Outshine Shibs Legacy^[2]. This trend suggests that neither PEPE nor SHIB is likely to dominate the space in 2025. Instead, the market may fragment further, with newer projects capturing investor attention.

Conclusion

The meme coin market in 2025 is a microcosm of cryptocurrency's broader evolution. While PEPE's viral surge and SHIB's ecosystem-driven approach have defined the genre, the rise of utility-focused projects like Remittix and Layer Brett signals a maturing market. For PEPE to overtake SHIB, it would need to pivot from speculation to substance—a challenge that remains unmet. Investors, increasingly discerning, are betting on projects that blend virality with value, leaving traditional meme coins to contend with an uncertain future.