BTC feels stuck, but Bitcoin Pepe continues strong momentum with just 3 days left to buy

  • Attention among retail participants is shifting to emerging narratives like Bitcoin Pepe, which is in the final stretch of its presale.
  • With only three days left until the presale closes on May 31, 2025, the project is attracting considerable attention.
  • Bitcoin Pepe has already raised more than $11.7 million in its ongoing presale, with BPEP tokens priced at $0.0377.

The total crypto market capitalisation has declined by 0.8% over the past 24 hours to $3.43 trillion, staying below the intraday peak of $3.49 trillion seen on Tuesday and last Friday’s high of $3.54 trillion.

This pullback stands out, particularly against the backdrop of rising risk appetite in equity markets over the last two sessions, pointing to a more cautious sentiment within the crypto space.

Bitcoin has remained range-bound since May 22, fluctuating between $106,600 and $111,700. It is currently trading near the $108,000 mark.

With BTC consolidating and some investors locking in profits from recent gains, attention among retail participants is shifting to emerging narratives like Bitcoin Pepe, which is in the final stretch of its presale.

Bitcoin’s increased stability, declining volatility, and growing institutional presence have made it less appealing to traders seeking aggressive upside.

By contrast, speculative capital is moving toward assets such as Bitcoin Pepe, as traders look to capitalise on early-stage tokens with the potential for large returns.

BTC looks to break through

   BTC price has “broken out of the triangle pattern and is moving upward,” but a key resistance level is at $110,000, said analyst and trader BitMonty in his latest Bitcoin analysis on X.

Over the past few days, Bitcoin bulls have made two unsuccessful attempts to break above the resistance at $110,000.

The trader pointed out that a breakout above this level could propel BTC to new all-time highs.

For market intelligence firm Santiment, failure to grow past the $110,000 level has led to waning enthusiasm among traders.

Traders are showing a bit of FOMO as Bitcoin’s price ranges around $110,000, but the “euphoria has calmed down a bit,” the firm explained in an X post, adding:

“With markets moving in the opposite direction of retailers’ expectations, we may continue to see some reasonable doubt.”

Bitcoin Pepe presale closes soon

While Bitcoin remains stable, its recent climb to fresh highs is once again lifting overall market sentiment — a trend that has often preceded broader rallies in the crypto space.

As capital rotates back into digital assets, speculative segments like meme coins are drawing renewed attention from investors.

At the forefront of this shift is Bitcoin Pepe.

Positioned as the first meme-focused Layer 2 built on the Bitcoin network, Bitcoin Pepe aims to combine the cultural pull of memes with tangible blockchain functionality.

It seeks to leverage Bitcoin’s security while offering scalability on par with networks like Solana — a technical distinction that sets it apart from most meme tokens, which tend to lack real infrastructure.

To support its Layer 2 ambitions, the project has secured several strategic partnerships.

These include Super Meme and Plena Finance. Additionally, a partnership with the GETE Network could extend Bitcoin Pepe’s reach into the cross-chain Web3 gaming space.

The initiative reflects a clear attempt to couple real-world utility with viral meme appeal — a mix that could resonate well in today’s market.

Investor interest appears to be matching the momentum. Bitcoin Pepe has already raised more than $11.7 million in its ongoing presale, with BPEP tokens priced at $0.0377.

With only three days left until the presale closes on May 31, 2025, the project is attracting considerable attention.

A listing on centralized exchanges is expected shortly after, which could act as a near-term catalyst for price movement.

The post BTC feels stuck, but Bitcoin Pepe continues strong momentum with just 3 days left to buy appeared first on CoinJournal.

XRP drops 1.05% to $2.29 as key resistance blocks further gains

  • Trading below the 100-hourly SMA, signalling bearish momentum.
  • Key support levels are $2.280, $2.260, and $2.2320.
  • Bulls need a clear move above $2.3720 to shift short-term trend.

XRP has lost momentum again, dropping by 1.05% over the last 24 hours to trade at $2.29.

After a brief attempt to recover, bulls failed to break through the $2.36 resistance zone, leading to renewed selling pressure.

XRP
Source: CoinMarketCap

Market data from Kraken shows the XRP/USD pair remains under its 100-hourly Simple Moving Average (SMA), with technical indicators pointing to a potential retest of key support levels if selling continues.

This latest decline follows a modest bounce from a local low of $2.2670 earlier in the week.

XRP’s price action reflects broader weakness in the crypto market, where top tokens are struggling to maintain momentum amid macroeconomic uncertainty and regulatory headwinds.

Rising expectations of delayed interest rate cuts in the US have added pressure across all major risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.

XRP faces heavy resistance at $2.36

XRP briefly rallied above $2.320 and $2.350 earlier in the week, even climbing past the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement of the downward wave from $2.4768 to $2.2670.

It also broke a key descending trend line at $2.305, offering short-term optimism.

However, this recovery stalled at the $2.360 level—currently acting as the first major resistance.

Without a clear breakout above this zone, bears regained control, pushing the price back down to $2.29.

A move above $2.3720, which aligns with the 50% Fib retracement, would be needed for momentum to turn.

Until then, XRP remains technically weak and vulnerable to further short-term declines.

Price at risk of deeper decline below $2.260

XRP is now hovering just above the $2.280 support zone.

A sustained break below this could send the token toward $2.260. Below that, support levels sit at $2.2320 and $2.2000.

The 100-hourly SMA continues to act as a barrier to upside movement, and the chart structure still shows lower highs, confirming a bearish trend.

A close above $2.360 would be needed to change short-term sentiment, but with selling pressure intensifying, further downside remains a possibility.

Meanwhile, Ripple Labs, the company associated with XRP, continues to expand its partnerships and utility-based applications globally, including ongoing developments in central bank digital currency (CBDC) platforms.

However, these advancements have yet to translate into consistent price support for the XRP token, which remains closely tied to speculative flows and broader market sentiment dynamics.

Wider market uncertainty weighs on altcoins

The drop in XRP mirrors caution across the broader digital asset market.

Bitcoin and Ethereum have also faced resistance in recent sessions, with traders reluctant to make strong moves ahead of macroeconomic data from the US.

With no immediate bullish catalysts and interest rate speculation weighing on investor sentiment, altcoins are particularly vulnerable to further downside movement.

XRP’s next moves will likely depend on whether it can hold above the $2.260 zone.

A breakdown could extend losses and signal a deeper correction, while any bounce will require a clear move above the $2.36 and $2.3720 levels to be sustained.

The post XRP drops 1.05% to $2.29 as key resistance blocks further gains appeared first on CoinJournal.

Over 30% of new crypto users start with meme coins, says Gemini’s 2025 report

  • 94% of meme coin holders also invest in Bitcoin and Ethereum later.
  • US leads in meme coin adoption, with 31% starting their crypto journey with them.
  • Meme coins now have a combined market cap of $74.4 billion.

Meme coins are no longer just a punchline in the crypto world.

A new study by Gemini suggests these internet-born tokens are now the entry point for over 30% of new cryptocurrency users across key markets like the US, UK, and Australia.

According to the State of Crypto 2025 report, meme coins such as Dogecoin and PEPE are not only attracting first-time investors but also acting as stepping stones into more established digital assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH).

This finding highlights a broader shift in investor behaviour and growing convergence between retail trends and institutional access.

Gemini report shows meme coins as crypto onboarding tools

The report draws on data from 7,205 respondents across six countries and reveals that meme coins serve as early training tools for new investors.

In the US, 31% of those who own both meme coins and traditional cryptocurrencies said they bought meme tokens first.

The trend is mirrored across other markets, with 30% in Australia, 28% in the UK, 23% in Singapore, 22% in Italy, and 19% in France following a similar pattern.

This shift in entry behaviour reflects meme coins’ growing role in demystifying wallets, decentralised exchanges, and tokenomics.

Gemini’s data shows that 94% of meme coin holders eventually invest in major cryptocurrencies.

This progression underlines the fact that meme tokens act as gateways rather than endpoints in crypto journeys.

Institutional crypto access rises as meme coins gain ground

The increasing legitimacy of meme coins coincides with a significant institutional push into digital assets.

The Gemini report finds that 39% of US investors now hold crypto through exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

These regulated instruments are bringing new credibility to the space and creating overlap with retail-driven segments like meme coins.

Combined market capitalisation for meme coins currently stands at $74.4 billion, according to CoinGecko.

What started as parody has developed into a meaningful vertical within the broader crypto market.

The synergy between viral meme content and professionalised investment vehicles suggests that crypto adoption is maturing in complexity and scale.

Adding further momentum is the political backdrop in the US. President Donald Trump has voiced support for crypto, even proposing the creation of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

His stance aligns with a wider regulatory shift that includes approvals for spot Bitcoin ETFs.

Together, these factors contribute to a climate that supports both the entertainment value of meme coins and the financial rigour of traditional crypto investments.

Community engagement now drives meme coin valuation

The latest sentiment from industry insiders supports the growing seriousness around meme coin investment.

Justin Sun, founder of Tron and an advisor to Huobi Global, also commented on this trend.

He highlighted that success in meme coins requires more than virality—it demands genuine community engagement.

For Sun, this means looking beyond follower counts to actual participation and interest.

He described meme coin projects as requiring the same level of commitment as major crypto platforms to gain traction and achieve long-term viability.

The post Over 30% of new crypto users start with meme coins, says Gemini’s 2025 report appeared first on CoinJournal.