Santiment: Crypto Community Market Sentiment Rebounds, Focus on Meme Coins, RWA, and ETF

Meme coins led the crypto market's rebound in early 2026, with assets like Pepe, Bonk, and Shiba Inu posting double-digit gains. Bitcoin, recently above $90,000, supported the broader risk-on environment, while aggregated open interest rose to a six-week high on CryptoQuant.

The rally in meme coins coincided with a stabilizing Bitcoin price and macroeconomic optimism, including potential rate cuts and disinflation. However, some analysts caution that meme coin surges can be driven by low liquidity and small market floats, limiting their predictive value.

Retail investors also showed increased optimism, with prediction markets assigning an 82% chance that Bitcoin would reach $100,000 before dropping to $69,000. Despite this, the broader Crypto Fear & Greed Index remained in the "Fear" territory, indicating that the market had not fully recovered psychologically from the 2025 downturn.

Why Did the Meme Coin Rally Happen?

The meme coin resurgence followed a stabilization in Bitcoin, which closed higher for four consecutive days after hitting $90,000. This was supported by an uptick in open interest, signaling renewed speculative activity.

Meme coins have historically been volatile, but their recent performance suggests a shift in risk appetite. Traders, particularly retail investors, have been rotating into high-beta assets as macroeconomic conditions improve.

The rally is not limited to meme coins. Other altcoins, including Hyperliquid and XRP, also gained roughly 5% in 24 hours, showing broader interest in crypto's smaller-cap assets.

How Did Markets React to RWA and ETF Developments?

Solana's real-world asset (RWA) tokenization reached a new milestone, with total value hitting $873.3 million in early 2026. This marked a 10% increase from December and a 325% growth year-to-date.

The rise of tokenized RWAs on Solana reflects growing institutional confidence in blockchain-based financial products. Assets like U.S. Treasury debt, public equity, and institutional funds now dominate the ecosystem.

In addition, Morgan Stanley filed for spot Bitcoin and Solana ETFs, signaling institutional recognition of crypto's place in traditional finance. The firm also proposed an Ethereum ETF with a staking component.

What Are Analysts Watching Next?

Despite the bullish momentum, analysts caution that meme coin rallies can be fragile. High wallet concentration, particularly in coins like Shiba Inu, can lead to sudden reversals if large holders decide to take profits.

Solana's on-chain metrics, including TVL and DEX volumes, show positive trends. The network's expansion into institutional payments and stablecoin settlements, such as Western Union's upcoming platform, could further boost adoption.

The broader market remains cautious. While the altcoin season index is rising, traders are selectively entering high-beta positions and watching macroeconomic signals for confirmation.

The market's mixed signals reflect both optimism and wariness. Meme coins have surged, and institutional players are stepping in with ETFs and RWA products. Yet, liquidity and concentration risks remain key concerns for investors navigating the current cycle.