The cryptocurrency market is seeing a strong return of FOMO as the meme coin sector recorded a massive $3 billion liquidity injection in a single day. This surge of capital sparked a broad rally, with several major tokens posting double-digit gains and signaling the possible start of a new meme season.
As Bitcoin reclaimed levels above $90,000, excitement quickly spread to more speculative assets. Pepe (PEPE) jumped more than 36%, while Pangle gained nearly 17%. However, Shiba Inu (SHIB) has captured the most attention after rising 14% in just 24 hours.
SHIB had struggled in recent months, trading at its lowest levels since late 2023 and sitting roughly 85% below its 2024 highs. The latest price movement now points to a potential trend reversal.
With nearly all major meme coins moving higher, traders have shifted their focus to the factors driving SHIB’s sudden strength.
At the same time, some investors are moving past well-known coins and focusing on projects like Pepenode, which offers real use through node rewards and is gaining attention as the best meme coin to buy for those getting in early on the next meme cycle.
Source – 99Bitcoins YouTube Channel
Shiba Inu Price Prediction
Shiba Inu (SHIB) opened January 2026 with strong momentum, climbing about 14% in a single day and lifting its weekly gains to nearly 16%.
After a difficult close to 2025, when the token traded at its lowest levels since late 2023 and sat roughly 85% below its 2024 peak, the recent rally signals a clear shift in market sentiment.
Several high-confidence technical and on-chain signals back this move, including a falling wedge breakout on the daily chart as SHIB pushed above a key descending trendline that capped price action since September 2025.
A 20% increase in open interest strengthens the case that the prolonged bearish consolidation has ended.
Momentum indicators also support the bullish outlook: the RSI rebounded from the 30 level, and the MACD printed a bullish crossover, both showing fading selling pressure and the early stages of an uptrend.
#Memecoin $SHIB is retesting a key long-term support again. This same level triggered explosive pumps in 2021 and 2024.
Compression at support — watch for expansion
pic.twitter.com/dB7pw7lnBF
— Anup Dhungana (@CryptoAnup) January 2, 2026
Analysts point out that SHIB now tests a long-term support zone that fueled major rallies in 2021 and 2024.
If SHIB holds above the $0.00000763 support level, the setup opens the door for a move toward $0.00001057, which implies a potential 32% upside in the coming weeks.
For those looking to take advantage of the potential rally, here is a guide on how and where to buy Shiba Inu.
Shiba Inu (SHIB) Token Burn Surges 10,000%
One major catalyst for the Shiba Inu (SHIB) price recovery is the aggressive acceleration of its deflationary mechanism.
According to recent data from Shibburn, the token’s burn rate skyrocketed by around 10,000% in the first days of January 2026, with a single transaction permanently removing 171.68 million SHIB from circulation.
This surge is part of a broader community and institutional effort to address SHIB’s massive circulating supply, which currently stands at approximately 589.2 trillion tokens.
By systematically moving assets to inaccessible “black hole” addresses, the ecosystem aims to reduce inflationary pressure and create a more sustainable path toward long-term value appreciation.
While Shiba Inu relies on large token burns to create scarcity, forward-thinking investors are turning to Pepenode (PEPENODE), a high-utility alternative that pushes the deflationary idea further, leading many analysts to call it the best meme coin to buy for investors who want more than social media hype.
Shiba Inu Investors Turn to Pepenode as the Next High-Utility Meme Coin
Pepenode (PEPENODE) is inspired by the same mining process that powers the Bitcoin network. Instead of hiding that process, the game turns mining into a virtual strategy challenge focused on efficiency and optimization.
Pepenode swaps physical hardware for smart planning. Players use $PEPENODE tokens to buy and upgrade virtual Miner Nodes in a digital environment. These nodes mimic crypto mining and generate regular token rewards based on how well they are set up.
You never know where the next bag will show up
Those Nodes better be upgraded at all times just in case.
https://t.co/FaKIaBpf4I pic.twitter.com/4akRIKL0bX
— PEPENODE (@pepenode_io) January 4, 2026
Think of it as a blockchain-powered resource management game. Players start with a small server room and expand it by adding stronger virtual rigs. Every upgrade costs $PEPENODE tokens, and up to 70% of the tokens used are burned permanently.
This directly ties gameplay to token scarcity because the more players engage, the fewer tokens remain, which can increase their value. The game combines gaming, community, and crypto economics, bringing meme culture and mining together in a unique way.
The market has reacted quickly. The Pepenode presale is approaching $3 million, with the token currently priced at $0.0012161 before the next scheduled increase. Along with the Mine-to-Earn system, early investors can also stake Pepenode tokens, earning up to 533% APY.
The final seven days of the presale give investors a last chance to buy $PEPENODE at the final low price. Investors can purchase tokens through the Pepenode presale site using ETH, BNB, USDT, or credit and debit cards.
Pepenode works with all major wallets, including Best Wallet, one of the best crypto and Bitcoin wallets available today.
This article has been provided by one of our commercial partners and does not reflect Cryptonomist’s opinion. Please be aware our commercial partners may use affiliate programs to generate revenues through the links on this article.
