Crypto Market Boosted by a Sharp Memecoin Rebound

The capitalization of memecoins jumped by more than 23% in early 2026, with a trading volume that almost quadrupled. In short, “hot” money is back on the crypto market. According to CoinMarketCap, the sector went from about $38 billion on December 29 to over $47.7 billion a week later, while volumes climbed towards $8.7 billion.

Crypto: a return of the taste for risk, visible at first glance

Memecoins are not rising silently. They make noise because they concentrate pure speculation. When they bounce back, it is often a sign that the crypto market once again accepts the idea of “paying to see”.

The contrast is striking compared to late 2025. CoinMarketCap summarized a weakened sector, with capitalization fallen back around $38 billion and volumes sharply down. The current rebound therefore looks less like a simple technical bounce than a change in posture.

Another detail that matters: the movement is not limited to a micro-niche. CoinGecko, for its part, shows a much wider “meme” market, around $51.7 billion and over $8.5 billion volume over 24h. This suggests widespread participation, even if the figures vary depending on the scope.

DOGE, SHIB, PEPE: the trio that lights up the screen

Dogecoin and Shiba Inu often play the role of the gateway. They have liquidity, recognition, and the ability to become “trendy” again in one day. In the recent sequence, they posted double-digit gains while Pepe was even more explosive.

The crypto Pepe, precisely, illustrates a classic phenomenon: when the crowd returns, it also looks for more nervous profiles. Tokens with a simple and community storytelling become accelerators. They don’t need a big macroeconomic narrative. They need attention, and attention is a capricious currency.

The derivatives market adds a layer. There is a resurgence of activity on positions and volumes. When open interest tightens, movements tend to “strengthen,” sometimes too fast.

The psychological trigger after Christmas, and the contrary mechanism

There is a calendar detail that recurs in several analyses: the post-Christmas period. Santiment mentioned a crypto rebound starting shortly after a peak of “FUD” among retail investors. It’s a known pattern: when the mood becomes unbearable, the market sometimes finds a pretext to do the opposite.

This is not magic, it’s microstructure. In fear phases, liquidity dries up, weak hands exit, and the slightest spark can trigger a brutal rotation. Memecoins often benefit from this void, because they move fast and attract followers.

Even the overall mood seems less dark. Several sources indicate that CoinMarketCap’s “Crypto Fear & Greed” index has returned to a neutral zone around 40, a level contrasting with weeks of fear. It’s not a green light, rather a thermometer rising.

When memecoins heat up, capital doesn’t always stay in the same place. Part of it quickly seeks other pockets of yield. This is where the word “altseason” comes back, sometimes too early, but rarely by chance.