What triggered the weekend sell-off in Dogecoin and Pepe?**
Dogecoin fell 8% and Pepe dropped 12% as renewed U.S.-China tariff threats and Bitcoin whale sell-offs rattled speculative crypto markets. The memecoins, which thrive on retail trader enthusiasm, were particularly hard hit by the risk-off sentiment. Analysts noted reduced liquidity in weekend trading amplified the price swings[5].
The sell-off also reflected profit-taking after a prolonged rally in meme-driven assets. Dogecoin’s association with Elon Musk, whose recent comments sparked volatility in other projects like TON, further eroded confidence. Meanwhile, Pepe’s lack of fundamental utility made it vulnerable to abrupt sentiment shifts[5].
While some traders see the dip as a temporary correction, others warn that memecoins could face prolonged weakness if macroeconomic conditions worsen. Their performance will likely remain a barometer for retail investor risk appetite in the coming weeks[5].
