• Bitcoin Pepe aims for Meme Layer-2 on Bitcoin with PEP-20.
• TRUMP memecoin earned $350M for its creators, with 80% owned by Trump affiliates.
• Regulatory push grows as memecoins spark profit and manipulation concerns.

The cryptocurrency world is buzzing with the rise of memecoins tied to high-profile figures and innovative concepts. Among the currently trending memecoins are Official Trump (TRUMP), themed after President Donald Trump, and Bitcoin Pepe (BPEP), which brings memecoins to Bitcoin blockchain.

Bitcoin Pepe has raised over $4 million in its ongoing presale, the “World’s Only Bitcoin Meme ICO,” while a Financial Times report shows that the Official Trump (TRUMP) memecoin, has reportedly generated a staggering $350 million for its creators.

Bitcoin Pepe seeks to build a meme empire on Bitcoin

Amid the memecoin frenzy, Bitcoin Pepe is carving its own niche, raising $4,029,822 in its ongoing presale. Dubbed a “Solana on Bitcoin,” this project aims to create a Meme Layer-2 for Bitcoin, boasting instant transactions and ultra-low fees via its PEP-20 token standard.

Currently in its sixth presale stage out of thirty presale stages, the Bitcoin Pepe (BPEP) token is its going for $0.0268 and it is set to rise to $0.0281 in the next phase.

Post-presale Bitcoin Pepe’s vision is ambitious: enabling memecoin creation on Bitcoin, which it calls “the only chain that will live forever.” Its whitepaper, roadmap, and team details are accessible on its site, alongside a SolidProof audit for credibility.

Bitcoin Pepe’s appeal lies in its simplicity and promise. The project’s branding—replete with giveaways and a “Watch Bitcoin Pepe’s Birth” video—taps into meme culture while leveraging Bitcoin’s enduring reputation, setting it apart from flash-in-the-pan tokens.

As Trump’s memecoin saga unfolds with regulatory clouds looming, Bitcoin Pepe offers a grassroots counterpoint.

Official Trump (TRUMP) has raked in millions

The TRUMP memecoin, launched just days before Donald Trump’s White House return on January 20, 2025, has become a financial juggernaut.

According to the Financial Times report dated March 7, entities behind the token—tied to The Trump Organization’s CIC Digital and Fight Fight Fight LLC—earned at least $314 million from token sales and $36 million in fees on the Solana blockchain. Together, these groups hold 80% of the 1 billion minted TRUMP tokens, though Trump’s personal profit remains undisclosed.

The project kicked off with 200 million tokens released initially, with the remaining 800 million slated for distribution over three years. Early sales saw 100 million tokens offloaded for under $1.05 each, but prices soared to a peak of $75 by January 19.

However, the launch of Melania Trump’s MELANIA memecoin triggered an 82% price drop, prompting Trump-linked accounts to spend $1 million stabilizing the market by buying tokens at $33.20.

Analysts suggest that market manipulation may be at play. The Financial Times tracked $291 million in USDC reinvested into liquidity pools to prop up TRUMP’s value, alongside 14.7 million tokens sent to exchanges like Binance and Coinbase.

Despite the crash, the 831 million tokens still held by Trump affiliates carry a notional value of $10.8 billion, underscoring the memecoin’s outsized impact.

The phenomenon has sparked regulatory scrutiny with Representative Sam Liccardo proposing banning officials from such ventures, while New York Assembly member Clyde Vanel introduced a bill on March 5 to penalize memecoin rug pulls.

Yet, with the SEC deeming memecoins outside securities laws, oversight remains murky, leaving investors vulnerable amid the hype of 700 copycat tokens.

Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, had a lackluster 2024, underperforming against Bitcoin and many altcoins throughout the year. However, as 2025 begins, Ethereum is starting to show signs of recovery, gaining over 10% in less than a week. This early surge has rekindled hope among investors and analysts who see potential for a strong performance this year.

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Top analyst Maartunn recently shared insightful data highlighting an ongoing trend of aggressive shorting in Ethereum markets. According to Maartunn, taker sellers have been dominating the market, outpacing taker buyers by over $350 million daily. This aggressive shorting could explain Ethereum’s poor performance in 2024, as constant selling pressure likely suppressed upward momentum.

With the new year’s optimism, many believe this shorting trend may begin to shift, creating conditions for Ethereum to reclaim its position as a market leader. As the altcoin leader pushes past its challenges, the coming weeks will be critical to determine whether this early rally marks the beginning of a more sustained upward trend. Investors are closely watching Ethereum, anticipating that a reversal of these bearish trends could lead to a stellar 2025 for the network.

Ethereum Rising Amid Aggressive Shorting Trends

Ethereum is attempting to push above its 2024 high, but a decisive breakout remains elusive. Recent price action indicates the potential for a rally, with ETH posting early gains in 2025. However, the path forward isn’t clear-cut, as significant selling pressure continues to weigh on the altcoin leader.

Top analyst Maartunn recently shared insightful data from CryptoQuant, shedding light on the current market dynamics. According to the data, Ethereum is experiencing aggressive shorting, with taker sellers dominating trading activity. Over $350 million more in sell-side pressure than buy-side activity is recorded daily, creating a challenging environment for ETH to break free from its current range.

This trend, while suppressing prices in the short term, can’t last indefinitely. Market cycles often see such aggressive shorting as a precursor to a reversal, as sellers run out of momentum and buying pressure begins to build. Long-term investors are reportedly eyeing this phase as an opportunity, positioning themselves to capitalize on Ethereum’s relatively low prices.

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As Ethereum navigates these dynamics, the next few weeks will be crucial. A clean breakout above last year’s high could signal the start of a broader rally, attracting renewed interest and potentially reversing the ongoing shorting trend. For now, ETH remains at a pivotal juncture.

Price Testing Crucial Levels

Ethereum is trading at $3,650 after a robust start to 2025, gaining significant traction in the early days of the year. The price recently broke above the 4-hour 200 EMA with impressive strength, a technical indicator often viewed as a critical threshold for long-term trends. ETH is now testing the 200 MA on the same timeframe, a level that could confirm the bullish trend if reclaimed and held as support.

A strong daily close above the 200 MA would solidify Ethereum’s upward momentum, potentially paving the way for a massive rally to challenge and surpass last year’s highs. Such a move would likely reinvigorate market sentiment and attract additional buying pressure, driving Ethereum to new levels in the near term.

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However, the bullish outlook is not without its risks. If Ethereum fails to hold the 200 MA as support, the market could witness a renewed wave of selling pressure. This would likely push ETH back toward lower levels, eroding recent gains and prolonging its battle to regain upward momentum.

Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView