Memecoin market capitalization climbed more than 23% in early 2026, rebounding from late-2025 lows as trading activity accelerated. Data from CoinMarketCap shows the sector’s market cap rising to roughly $47.7 billion, up from about $38 billion at the end of December, following a prolonged drawdown last year.
Transaction volume increased sharply alongside prices, jumping from $2.17 billion to $8.7 billion in just over a week. Large-cap memecoins, including Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and Pep,e posted double-digit gains, contributing to the broader recovery in the segment.
The rebound comes as the wider crypto market showed more modest gains, suggesting memecoins are once again leading risk-on behavior. Analysts note that memecoin activity often reflects shifts in retail sentiment, which may influence capital rotation into other altcoins if momentum persists.
