PEPE Surges 20% as James Wynn Gives Bold Prediction For 2026

Core Insights - The meme coin PEPE has started 2026 with a significant price increase of over 20% on January 2, 2026, raising questions about the potential for a meme season [1] - Trader James Wynn predicts that PEPE's market capitalization could reach $69 billion by the end of 2026, which has sparked considerable interest and buying activity in the investment community [1][2] - Wynn's previous success with PEPE, where he earned tens of millions from trading, adds credibility to his forecast, especially as he compares PEPE's potential to that of SHIB, which saw a massive increase in market cap during a previous cycle [2][3] Market Performance - PEPE's current market capitalization is approximately $2 billion, and Wynn's prediction suggests a potential price increase of nearly 35 times its current value [4] - Following Wynn's prediction, PEPE's price experienced a nearly 20% increase, indicating strong market momentum [4] - The trading volume for PEPE exceeded $600 million in a 24-hour period, marking the highest level in the past month, reflecting renewed investor interest [6] Market Dynamics - Analyst SΞA attributes PEPE's rally to U.S. tax rules, particularly tax-loss harvesting, where investors sold off assets to realize losses for tax benefits at the end of 2025 [5] - As the new tax year began, bullish investors quickly re-entered the market, contributing to the surge in PEPE's price and trading volume [6] - Other meme coins, such as Milady Cult Coin and Floki, also experienced significant gains at the start of 2026, suggesting a broader revival of interest in meme coins [7]