A new year begins, and the cryptocurrency market has staged an exciting reversal. Bitcoin has been oscillating between $87,000 and $89,000, while the leading MEME coin PEPE suddenly gained momentum, with a 24-hour increase of up to 35%, soaring to $0.00000611. The daily trading volume skyrocketed to $1.8 billion, and its market cap has once again surpassed the $2.5 billion mark. You can see the explosive nature of this rally from the trading volume—there is truly a continuous influx of funds.

Not only PEPE is surging. Popular coins like SOL, IMX, and FIL are rising in tandem, with gains exceeding 14%. This is not an isolated show for a single coin but a collective celebration across the entire altcoin sector. The scene of thousands of coins rising together has made a long-awaited return to the market.

Why will 2026 be the year of explosive growth for altcoins? The logic is quite clear. After Bitcoin retraced over 30% from its all-time high in October 2025, it entered a high-level consolidation phase. Institutional funds began seeking new profit points, creating valuation space for altcoins. Additionally, the macro environment is increasingly expecting rate cuts, and Layer 1 blockchain ecosystems continue to release vitality—chains like Solana have on-chain transaction costs as low as $0.00025, and DEX trading volumes repeatedly set new records. These are genuine demands, not fabricated.

Even more interesting is that MEME coins like PEPE, backed by strong community consensus and simple, efficient token design, are attracting both retail and institutional investors simultaneously. Data shows that PEPE holdings on the Robinhood platform account for over 8%, and open interest in contracts has surged by 82% in the short term. From a technical perspective, market sentiment has completely shifted from panic to greed.

That said, not every coin in this altcoin season can rise. The market shows a clear "the strong get stronger" characteristic. Blue-chip altcoins with real use cases, well-developed public chain ecosystems, and MEME coins with compelling narratives are the targets of capital chasing, while purely speculative air coins still face high risks.

If you want to profit from this rally, the safest approach is diversification—focus on DeFi leaders, high-performance public chains, and quality MEME coins. Never chase highs or stand on the sidelines.

Bitcoin remains Bitcoin, sitting steadily at the fishing platform. Meanwhile, the altcoin stage has been ignited. PEPE’s rapid surge is just the appetizer. As liquidity continues to be released, more potential coins will follow suit. 2026 is destined not to be a one-coin show—thousands of coins rising together—that’s the true appearance of a bull market. Are you ready to keep up with this wave?