Crypto analytics firm Santiment argues that widespread pessimism and “nostalgia” around memecoins could mark a classic capitulation bottom. The post Memecoin ‘CapitulationCrypto analytics firm Santiment argues that widespread pessimism and “nostalgia” around memecoins could mark a classic capitulation bottom. The post Memecoin ‘Capitulation

Memecoin ‘Capitulation’ May Signal Surprise Rebound, Santiment Says

2026/02/16 14:23
3 min read
  • Crypto analytics platform Santiment has identified a “capitulation” signal in the memecoin sector, suggesting that extreme social media pessimism and the “end of the meme era” narrative historically precede a market rebound.
  • The total memecoin market value fell 34.04% over 30 days to US$31.02 billion, coinciding with Bitcoin reaching its lowest price since October 2024.
  • Most top-100 memecoins show muted movement, though outliers like Pippin surged 243.17%, leading to debates on whether the next market cycle will be narrower and more selective.

Santiment says memecoins may be closer to a rebound than traders think, arguing that the current mood around the sector looks like “capitulation”, the point where most participants have stopped expecting a recovery.

In a report published Friday, the analytics platform said social media chatter has shifted heavily bearish, with many traders treating memecoins as a finished trend. Santiment’s view is that this kind of broad dismissal has historically appeared near market lows, because prices often move opposite the consensus once pessimism becomes crowded.

There is a growing narrative of “nostalgia” regarding memecoins, with many traders treating the sector as if it is permanently dead. This collective acceptance of the “end of the meme era” is a classic capitulation signal. When the crowd completely writes off a sector, it is often the contrarian time to start paying attention again.

Santiment

Read more: Australia’s SMSFs Embrace Crypto as Regulation and ETFs Fuel New Wave of Adoption

Crypto Market Crash

The backdrop has to do with weaker performance across the sector. To put it in perspective, the memecoin total market value has dropped 34.04% over the past 30 days to about US$31.02 billion (AU$47.4 billion), according to data from CoinMarketCap. 

The broader market has also been under pressure, with Bitcoin falling near US$60,000 (AU$91,800) on Feb. 3, its lowest level since October 2024.

Recent memecoin moves have been muted among the largest tokens, with most top-100 gains over the past week described as small. Santiment pointed to Pippin (PIPPIN) as an outlier after a 243.17% jump, while Official Trump rose 1.37% and Shiba Inu gained 1.11%.

Interestingly, it goes back to the wider debate about whether the usual “rotation” cycle still applies, Bitcoin leading, then Ethereum, then smaller and riskier tokens. 

If Bitcoin attracts more institutional attention, some analysts expect the next wave of altcoin gains to be narrower, with only select tokens outperforming rather than a broad-based rally.

Though Santiment’s counterpoint is that extreme negativity itself can be an ingredient for a rebound, even if the next “alt season” is more selective than past cycles.

Related: Coinbase Swings to $667M Loss as Crypto Slump Crushes Trading Volumes

The post Memecoin ‘Capitulation’ May Signal Surprise Rebound, Santiment Says appeared first on Crypto News Australia.

Disclaimer: The articles reposted on this site are sourced from public platforms and are provided for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the views of MEXC. All rights remain with the original authors. If you believe any content infringes on third-party rights, please contact service@support.mexc.com for removal. MEXC makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the content and is not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided. The content does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, nor should it be considered a recommendation or endorsement by MEXC.

You May Also Like

What SBI Really Owns in Ripple May Surprise XRP Investors

What SBI Really Owns in Ripple May Surprise XRP Investors

The post What SBI Really Owns in Ripple May Surprise XRP Investors appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. SBI Holdings Chairman Yoshitaka Kitao has confirmed that
Share
BitcoinEthereumNews2026/02/16 16:14
Earth’ Has A Girlboss Problem And Wendy Is A Mary Sue

Earth’ Has A Girlboss Problem And Wendy Is A Mary Sue

The post Earth’ Has A Girlboss Problem And Wendy Is A Mary Sue appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. The main problem with Alien: Earth, in its first seven episodes, is the idiot ball, which I explained in my previous post about the Hulu series. Nearly every character is incredibly stupid, or at least makes constantly stupid choices at every turn. This extends to the factions and organizations involved. The show probably ought to have been called Alien: Security Breach, but of course in order to actually breach security, you’d need some there in the first place. Spoilers ahead. On the USCSS Maginot, in Episode 5, almost every character, in nearly every situation, took a turn carrying the idiot ball, including a trained scientist eating her lunch in a biolab and then failing to secure two alien containers. The only reason for this incessant stupidity? To drive the plot forward. Fans of the show excused this and other bad character choices by saying something like: “This crew isn’t the cream of the crop. Nobody goes on a 65-year space mission unless they’re desperate.” You can’t expect people on an important space voyage to actually be smart! This misunderstands human nature entirely. Humanity has always had its adventurers and trailblazers, people who would go seek out “The New World” on voyages that could take months, and expeditions that could take years or even entire lifetimes, risking life and limb. These people were not the bottom of the barrel. In a future with space travel, scientists and explorers would compete to go to space, even if it meant leaving loved ones behind. They would train rigorously for the honor. Only the best of the best would be sent on a crucial mission to retrieve dangerous alien species and bring them back to Earth. I have a question: If these scientists and engineers and the rest of the crew were really just…
Share
BitcoinEthereumNews2025/09/18 20:20
Vitalik Buterin Reveals Ethereum’s Long-Term Focus on Quantum Resistance

Vitalik Buterin Reveals Ethereum’s Long-Term Focus on Quantum Resistance

TLDR Ethereum focuses on quantum resistance to secure the blockchain’s future. Vitalik Buterin outlines Ethereum’s long-term development with security goals. Ethereum aims for improved transaction efficiency and layer-2 scalability. Ethereum maintains a strong market position with price stability above $4,000. Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, has shared insights into the blockchain’s long-term development. During [...] The post Vitalik Buterin Reveals Ethereum’s Long-Term Focus on Quantum Resistance appeared first on CoinCentral.
Share
Coincentral2025/09/18 00:31