Whales Back Shiba Inu as PEPE Loses Retail Momentum

Pepe (PEPE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB) remain two of the most followed meme coins in the crypto market, yet their recent trajectories suggest diverging momentum and strategies among investors. At a critical juncture in late 2025, market analysts and traders are assessing which of these tokens holds a stronger edge in the evolving meme coin landscape.

PEPE, which has been consolidating near $0.0000096, is at a pivotal support level that could either trigger a fresh rally or further consolidation. While it retains a market capitalization of around $4 billion, analysts note a weakening trend in its price outlook compared to earlier parts of the year. Recent data shows PEPE shedding nearly 3.7% of its value over the past week, contrasting with SHIB’s limited loss of just 0.3%. This divergence underscores a broader shift in investor sentiment, with PEPE increasingly relying on retail traders while SHIB benefits from growing whale accumulation.

SHIB, on the other hand, has been exhibiting stronger on-chain activity and a more favorable technical setup. Its price is forming an ascending triangle pattern on the daily chart, a bullish consolidation phase that has seen the token accumulate momentum after bouncing off key support levels. Whale activity in SHIB has been particularly notable, with significant accumulation in both spot and derivative markets. This suggests that SHIB's recent price resilience may be driven by more institutional-level interest, a factor that analysts say can provide a more stable foundation for future price movement.

In contrast, PEPE’s price action remains more volatile and influenced by speculative retail-driven trading. While the token has shown signs of bullish momentum after bouncing off the $0.000009140 support level, the magnitude of its upward movement has been weaker than SHIB’s. Additionally, on-chain data indicates that PEPE’s whale activity has been relatively neutral, with no significant accumulation to date. This dynamic raises questions about the token’s ability to sustain a prolonged bullish phase without stronger institutional support.

Newer meme coin projects are also emerging as potential alternatives to both PEPE and SHIB. For instance, Pepe Node, an innovative presale project, has raised over $562,000 and is offering real utility such as staking and mining during the presale phase. This approach is attracting attention from traders who are looking for more tangible value propositions beyond pure speculation. Similarly, Wall Street Pepe (WEPE) has executed a major token burn and migration to Solana, reducing its circulating supply and signaling a more structured long-term strategy.

Meanwhile, SHIB continues to benefit from its larger market presence and the perception of relative stability. Traders are closely watching whether it can break out of its current triangle pattern and challenge the $0.000027 resistance level. If it succeeds, SHIB could see a significant parabolic move, mirroring the kind of bullish momentum that propelled PEPE in earlier cycles.

Overall, the current market dynamics highlight a strategic shift among meme coin investors. SHIB appears to be leveraging whale accumulation and technical strength to build a more robust price foundation, while PEPE remains dependent on retail sentiment and short-term volatility. As both tokens approach key breakout levels, the coming weeks could determine which meme coin emerges as the stronger contender in the remainder of 2025.

Source:

[1] Pepe Coin Price Prediction: $PEPE Outlook Weakens (https://icobench.com/news/pepe-coin-price-prediction-pepe-outlook-weakens/)

[2] PEPE Finds Support at $0.0000096 — Could This Spark a New Rally for Holders? (https://bravenewcoin.com/insights/pepe-pepe-price-prediction-pepe-finds-support-at-0-0000096-could-this-spark-a-new-rally-for-holders)

[3] 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/)

[4] 5 Meme Coins to Buy Instead of Shiba Inu (SHIB) for Superior Profits in 2025 (https://finbold.com/5-meme-coins-to-buy-instead-of-shiba-inu-shib-for-superior-profits-in-2025/)