Pepe Tokens Surge 25% as Suspected Hackers Buy $4.28 Million Worth

Five wallets with suspected ties to hackers have recently acquired 611 billion Pepe tokens, valued at $4.28 million. This purchase follows a 25% late-week rally in Pepe's price to $0.0000077, positioning it as a leading altcoin. The acquisition coincides with a return of risk-on sentiment, driven by a 90-day tariff pause, which has led to increased retail liquidity in meme coins. This significant purchase could indicate a strategic buy-the-dip move, as Pepe remains 70% below its pre-tariff war levels from over two months ago.

Blockchain analytics firm Lookonchain identified the $4.28 million Pepe purchase in an April 17 post, highlighting suspicious wallet activity linked to the transactions. The wallets involved had previously withdrawn Ethereum from Tornado Cash, a crypto mixer used to obscure the source of crypto transactions. While Tornado Cash was created as a privacy tool, it is often used by hackers to launder stolen assets through decentralized exchanges.

The acquisition of Pepe tokens follows a notable technical development: the breakout of a descending wedge pattern that has guided its 4-month decline. If buying pressure is sustained, this pattern suggests a potential move toward $0.00002, representing a 168% gain from current levels. In the near term, Pepe may first test February’s high of $0.00001, a 40% climb from its current price, as momentum indicators present a mixed outlook. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is rising toward the neutral line after lingering near oversold levels for much of the past month, signaling waning selling pressure. Additionally, the MACD remains above the signal line, indicating that the uptrend may have staying power. However, Pepe is facing resistance at the 20SMA, and if bulls cannot clear this level, a pullback toward the support zone that catalyzed the breakout may be necessary to find stronger footing.

Those who invested in the 25% Pepe price rally late may now be exposed to potential unrealized losses, making strategic plays essential in the current market environment. This is where MIND of Pepe ($MIND) comes into play, offering traders an opportunity to get in early and stay ahead of high-gaining opportunities. The Mind of Pepe AI will actively engage with the crypto community through X, driving conversations, uncovering alpha opportunities, and delivering exclusive, token-gated insights. Inside its Telegram community, holders gain early access to high-potential tokens before they hit the market, keeping them ahead of the curve. At the time of writing, MIND has raised over $8 million in its ongoing presale, capitalizing on the Pepe brand and one of this cycle’s strongest meme coin narratives: AI agents.