SHIB Made Millionaires in 2021. Will Pepe Blow Up Too In 2025?

In the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency, meme coins have carved out a unique niche, captivating investors with their community-driven hype and speculative potential. Shiba Inu (SHIB) had its iconic moment in 2021, skyrocketing to a $40 billion market cap and turning early adopters into millionaires. Now, as we move deeper into 2025, Pepe Coin (PEPE) is emerging as a serious contender to replicate—and potentially surpass—SHIB’s meteoric rise.

With a current price of $0.000057563, a market cap of $3.18 billion, and a vibrant community, Pepe is poised for what could be 2025’s defining “SHIB moment.” Let’s dive into why Pepe might be the next big meme coin phenomenon, drawing on its tokenomics, market dynamics, and cultural appeal.

Pepe’s Tokenomics: A Foundation for Growth

Pepe, an ERC-20 token on the Ethereum blockchain, launched in April 2023 with a clear mission: to become the “king of memes” and make meme coins great again. Its tokenomics are designed for fairness and community ownership, mirroring the structure that fueled SHIB’s success.

According to TokenInsight, Pepe has a total and circulating supply of 420.68 trillion tokens, with a maximum supply capped at 420.69 trillion. Notably, 93.1% of tokens were allocated to the liquidity pool, with the liquidity provider (LP) tokens burnt and the contract renounced, ensuring no central control—a hallmark of a truly decentralized project. The remaining 6.9% is held in a multi-signature wallet (trackable via the ENS name “pepecexwallet.eth”) for future exchange listings, bridges, and liquidity pools, providing flexibility for growth without compromising security.

This structure echoes SHIB’s early days, where a massive token supply and community-driven ethos created an accessible entry point for retail investors. Pepe’s fully circulating supply means there’s no inflationary pressure from new token releases, and its $3.18 billion fully diluted valuation (FDV) matches its market cap, indicating transparency in its market positioning.

Let’s clear something up:
PEPE, the meme coin exploding in 2025, is not the same as PepeCoin.

• PEPE is the current viral Ethereum-based token gaining massive traction, known for its meme culture and zero tax.
• PepeCoin (MEME) is an older, unrelated project that launched years ago and isn’t connected to this new wave.

Always double-check the token address before buying, especially on decentralized exchanges. Use trusted links, and if you’re ever unsure, use CoinMarketCap or CoinGecko to confirm the correct token.

Stay smart, stay safe — and if you’re ready to grab some PEPE, don’t forget to use Coinbase and follow our step-by-step guide above.

With a 24-hour trading volume of $341.7 million (10.7% of its market cap), Pepe demonstrates strong liquidity and investor interest, setting the stage for potential price surges if market sentiment turns bullish.

How to Buy PEPE (Step-by-Step)

1. Sign up for Coinbase to buy ETH.

Coinbase is one of the best places to start — you can buy ETH there easily, then send it to your wallet to swap for PEPE. If you don’t have an account yet, make one now through our Coinbase link to get started with trading perks and bonuses.

2. Create a Wallet

Download MetaMask or your preferred wallet from the App Store or Google Play (free).
If you’re on desktop, install the MetaMask Chrome extension at metamask.io.

3. Get Some ETH

You’ll need Ethereum (ETH) in your wallet to swap for PEPE.
Here’s how to get ETH:

• Buy directly in MetaMask (credit card or bank).
• Transfer ETH from another wallet.
• Buy ETH on Coinbase, then send it to your MetaMask wallet.

4. Connect to Uniswap

Open Uniswap using Google Chrome or the browser inside the MetaMask app.

• Connect your wallet.
• Paste the official PEPE contract address (double-check it’s the real one).
• Select PEPE and approve the swap.

5. Swap ETH for PEPE

Swap your ETH for $PEPE.

• PEPE has zero taxes, so you don’t need to adjust slippage unless the market’s going crazy.
• Confirm the transaction when MetaMask asks you to sign.

And that’s it — welcome to the PEPE army.

Market Dynamics: Pepe’s Momentum in 2025

As of April 19, 2025, Pepe ranks #29 among cryptocurrencies, with a price of $0.000057563, up 4.69% in the last 24 hours. Its market cap stands at $3.18 billion, a far cry from SHIB’s peak of $40 billion in 2021 but impressive for a meme coin launched just two years ago. Pepe’s growth trajectory mirrors SHIB’s early rise, driven by a dedicated community of 423,290 holders and organic on-chain activity. Posts on X highlight Pepe’s outperformance over other meme coins, with some users noting its trading volume surpassing SHIB and others combined, signaling strong retail interest.

Pepe’s price predictions for 2025 are optimistic, with analysts projecting significant gains. CoinCodex forecasts a 227.92% increase by April 15, 2025, reaching $0.00002322, while Changelly predicts an average price of $0.00000891 for April 2025, with a potential high of $0.0000108. More bullish estimates from Brave New Coin suggest Pepe could hit $0.01 by the end of 2025, driven by community momentum and potential DeFi integrations. While these projections vary, they underscore Pepe’s potential for explosive growth, much like SHIB’s 2021 rally. However, Pepe’s current market cap would need to grow over 12-fold to match SHIB’s $40 billion peak—a challenging but not impossible feat in a bullish market.

Cultural Appeal: Pepe’s Community and Meme Power

Pepe’s biggest strength lies in its cultural resonance. Built around Pepe the Frog, a globally recognized meme created by artist Matt Furie, Pepe Coin taps into a universal symbol of internet culture. Unlike SHIB, which started as a Dogecoin rival, Pepe positions itself as a meme coin for the people, with “zero taxes, LP burnt, and contract renounced,” as noted on TokenInsight. This ethos resonates with retail investors seeking a fun, speculative asset free from centralized control. X users have emphasized Pepe’s organic growth, with one stating, “Pepe’s move is way more organic—real on-chain volume, real liquidity,” contrasting it with SHIB’s more speculative, exchange-driven hype in 2021.

Pepe’s community is its engine, much like SHIB’s “SHIB Army” was in 2021. With 423,290 holders and growing, Pepe has fostered a loyal following that drives social media buzz and trading volume. The coin’s 24-hour volume of $341.7 million reflects this engagement, outpacing many competitors.

Challenges and Risks: Can Pepe Sustain the Hype?

While Pepe’s similarities to SHIB’s 2021 run are striking, it faces challenges that could temper its ascent. Meme coins are notoriously volatile, and Pepe’s lack of intrinsic utility—beyond its cultural appeal—makes it reliant on community hype and market sentiment. Santiment’s Daily Active Addresses index shows a bearish trend, with a decline from 7,319 to 3,611 active addresses since early February 2025, suggesting waning network activity. The Fear & Greed Index at 32 (Fear) indicates investor hesitation toward high-risk assets like Pepe, which could hinder short-term growth.

Moreover, Pepe’s whale concentration remains a concern. Although it dipped below 46% by November 2024, large holders still control a significant portion of the supply, potentially leading to price manipulation. SHIB faced similar issues but overcame them through ecosystem developments like Shibarium. Pepe’s roadmap is vague, with few concrete plans beyond community dominance, which might cap its long-term potential unless it introduces utility, such as NFT integrations or staking mechanisms, as some analysts suggest.

Why 2025 Could Be Pepe’s SHIB Moment

Despite these risks, Pepe’s parallels to SHIB’s 2021 surge are undeniable. Both coins thrive on community-driven hype, massive token supplies, and cultural relevance. SHIB’s $40 billion market cap was fueled by retail FOMO, social media buzz, and exchange listings—factors Pepe is already leveraging. Pepe’s current $3.18 billion market cap and $0.000057563 price position it as an affordable entry point for retail investors, much like SHIB was at fractions of a cent. If Pepe captures even a fraction of SHIB’s 2021 momentum, it could see a 10x or greater increase, potentially reaching $0.01 as some analysts predict, translating to a $42 billion market cap—surpassing SHIB’s peak.

With a 2025 bull run on the horizon, meme coins like PEPE could soar alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum. Its strong on-chain volume, growing community, and listings on platforms like Coinbase give it real momentum. Want in early? Sign up to Coinbase now via our link.

Also, don’t miss this other article where we break down 5 serious altcoins to keep on your radar.

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