Cryptocurrency
Peng Token Explodes 90% & Trends on DEXTools – Is SMOG Next Solana Meme Coin to Pump?
The Solana meme coin frenzy shows no signs of cooling off, with Peng (PENG) exploding over 90% in the past 24 hours.
This brand-new project is now ranked third on DEXTools.io’s list of trending tokens as new money keeps pouring in from retail investors.
With meme coin mania in full swing, some traders speculate that Smog (SMOG) could be next to experience another bullish leg.
PENG Token Rallies & Reaches 19,000+ Holders
PENG has been on a tear in the past day, with the penguin-themed meme coin now trading at $0.594.
The rally has added to PENG’s astonishing 5,000%+ gains since it launched on the Solana blockchain last Tuesday.
This speculative frenzy shows no signs of slowing, with PENG now boasting over 19,000 holders and an eye-watering $61 million market cap.
For context, that’s larger than many legitimate utility tokens and DeFi protocols launched on Solana in recent months.
Driving the buzz is PENG’s rapidly growing social media presence, with the token amassing over 14,000 followers on Twitter in just one week.
PENG’s use cases are still scarce, but that hasn’t stopped droves of retail traders from piling in and sparking a full-blown bull run.
The token’s meteoric rise has even turned heads in the influencer space.
@CryptoTalkMan, who has over 54,000 followers, tweeted that 2024 is the “year of the penguins.”
PEPE Vibes & Huge Airdrop Fuel Peng’s Rise
Although PENG has been going parabolic, many traders are still scratching their heads over what this project is all about.
As it turns out, PENG is capitalizing on the recent mania surrounding Pepe (PEPE) – the world’s third-largest meme coin by market cap.
According to its website, PENG depicts a cartoon penguin that bears more than a passing resemblance to Pepe the Frog but with a unique twist.
The project’s creators are leaning into this association, branding PENG as the “icy addition to the Solana blockchain.”
Beyond the cheeky branding, however, the Peng token appears to be a fairly standard meme coin so far.
Its tokenomics include a capped supply of 100 million tokens with no taxes on buys or sells.
Liquidity has also been permanently burned to prevent rug pulling down the line.
Helping fuel PENG’s ascent, the team has also announced plans for a $100,000 airdrop to holders of the popular Pudgy Penguins NFT collection.
As the hype around PENG continues to snowball, investors are clamoring to get involved before the token goes mainstream.
SMOG’s Staking Yields & Growing Community Position It as Solana’s Next Meme Coin Gem
While the PENG token has been stealing the spotlight on DEXTools.io, another buzzworthy project by the name of Smog may be a dark horse to watch out for next.
Unlike PENG, which thrives off a simplistic design, SMOG has taken a more strategic approach by positioning itself as a true multi-chain meme coin.
Though initially launched on Solana, SMOG has already bridged to Ethereum – tapping into a larger pool of potential investors.
What’s really turned heads is SMOG’s enormous airdrop campaign, which sets aside over a third of the total token supply for community members.
Combined with an innovative quest system on Zealy, SMOG has created a devoted community faster than many of its peers in the Solana meme coin space.
The buzz around SMOG’s airdrop has sent the token’s price and social sentiment soaring.
SMOG is up 22% today to $0.1995, with 99% of investors expressing bullish sentiment, according to crypto analytics platform birdeye.so.
For those who missed the initial PENG pump, SMOG could be a second chance to participate in the hype surrounding Solana-based meme coins.
Additionally, since SMOG offers yields of 42% per year to stakers, it presents an opportunity for those seeking passive income.
Disclaimer: The above article is sponsored content; it’s written by a third party. CryptoPotato doesn’t endorse or assume responsibility for the content, advertising, products, quality, accuracy, or other materials on this page. Nothing in it should be construed as financial advice. Readers are strongly advised to verify the information independently and carefully before engaging with any company or project mentioned and do their own research. Investing in cryptocurrencies carries a risk of capital loss, and readers are also advised to consult a professional before making any decisions that may or may not be based on the above-sponsored content.
Readers are also advised to read CryptoPotato’s full disclaimer.
Binance Free $100 (Exclusive): Use this link to register and receive $100 free and 10% off fees on Binance Futures first month (terms).
Cryptocurrency
US Entities’ Bitcoin Holdings Reach Massive Record: Details
The US entities’ share of global Bitcoin reserves has reached an all-time high amidst increasing confidence in the asset class. The figure is now 65% higher than non-US entities, according to CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju.
This milestone is based on an analysis of Bitcoin holdings by identifiable US entities – including miners, MicroStrategy (MSTR), ETFs, exchanges, and government accounts – compared to known offshore counterparts.
Institutional Demand Pushes US Bitcoin Reserve Ratio to ATH
As per the infographic shared by the exec, the ratio of US to non-US Bitcoin reserves has seen a sharp increase as it rose from 1.24 in September 2024 to 1.66 by December 16 and maintained a level of 1.65 as of January 6, 2025. This shift follows a period in 2023 when offshore holdings predominated while Bitcoin traded under $30,000.
U.S. entities’ #Bitcoin reserve share hit ATH, now 65% higher than non-U.S. entities. pic.twitter.com/SSgotY6RL8
— Ki Young Ju (@ki_young_ju) January 9, 2025
The recent surge in US-based Bitcoin reserves aligns with key events. This includes pro-crypto Donald Trump’s re-election and his proposal to establish a national strategic Bitcoin reserve, which coincided with the leading crypto asset’s surge to an all-time high above $108,000.
Institutional interest has also surged, as evidenced by spot Bitcoin ETFs experiencing record inflows and trading volumes alongside MicroStrategy’s ongoing accumulation.
The latter currently holds 447,470 BTC after its latest purchase of 1,070 BTC. The company also announced plans to raise $42 billion over three years to expand its Bitcoin portfolio.
Several companies have followed MicroStrategy’s footsteps. Despite the minor slump in the market, small entities in the country remained committed to Bitcoin. For instance, this week, Thumzup Media Corporation, known for its expertise in social media branding and marketing, purchased 9.783 BTC for approximately $1 million.
The company entered the Bitcoin market for the first time in November 2024, shortly after Trump’s election win. During the same period, Solidion Technology, specializing in battery materials, revealed its intention to invest a portion of its cash reserves in Bitcoin. Genius Group quickly followed, rolling out a Bitcoin-focused initiative and committing $120 million to the digital asset.
Global Governments and Corporations Ramp Up Interest
These developments have sparked interest among non-US entities and governments in building their own strategic Bitcoin reserves. The most prominent example of this is the Japanese venture capital fund Metaplanet, which has set a target of 10,000 BTC as part of its 2025 vision.
Metaplanet CEO Simon Gerovich recently even predicted a global rush for BTC reserves if Trump establishes a US strategic Bitcoin reserve. The exec said that Japan and other Asian countries would likely follow the US lead, viewing Bitcoin as a strategic national asset.
He highlighted growing corporate and governmental interest in BTC and added that such trends with principles in “The Bitcoin Standard.” Gerovich also noted that Trump’s reserve strategy could also inspire third-world countries to adopt Bitcoin to stabilize their currencies.
Governments around the world are already considering Bitcoin as a reserve asset. Czech National Bank Governor Aleš Michl, for one, proposed acquiring Bitcoin for diversification in a bid to join the likes of Switzerland, Germany, and Hong Kong in exploring crypto reserves.
Binance Free $600 (CryptoPotato Exclusive): Use this link to register a new account and receive $600 exclusive welcome offer on Binance (full details).
LIMITED OFFER for CryptoPotato readers at Bybit: Use this link to register and open a $500 FREE position on any coin!
Cryptocurrency
These Altcoins Bleed Out as Bitcoin (BTC) Slips Below $93K (Market Watch)
Bitcoin just doesn’t seem to be able to catch a break, as the asset slipped below $93,000 on a couple of occasions in the past 12 hours or so.
Many altcoins are also in dire situations, with notable price losses from the likes of DOGE, ADA, AVAX, LINK, and others.
BTC’s Troubles Keep Mounting
It was just about 48 hours ago when the primary cryptocurrency was charting new yearly peaks. Recall that the asset had climbed above $102,000 after a relatively quiet weekend amid growing ETF inflows, but then the landscape changed after the US announced the latest jobs report.
In a matter of minutes, the cryptocurrency plunged from six-digit territory to under $97,000 on Tuesday afternoon. The situation worsened on Wednesday as the bears kept pushing BTC south, which culminated in a price drop to $92,500 (on Bitstamp). After that weekly low, bitcoin bounced off and touched $95,000, but that was short-lived as the ETF flows turned negative, with nearly $600 million in the red.
As the Thursday Asian trading session progressed, BTC dropped once again to under $93,000. Although it sits just above that line now, the asset has lost nearly ten grand since Tuesday morning.
Its market cap has plummeted below $1.850 trillion but its dominance over the alts stands tall above 54% on CG.
ADA Down 8.5%
The altcoins are in no better shape, especially Cardano’s native token. ADA has plunged by more than 8% in the past 24 hours and has lost the $1 mark. DOGE, AVAX, LINK, and XLM are the other massive losers within the same time frame, with declines of up to 7%.
Nevertheless, the biggest and most painful decreases are evident from AI16Z and WIF. Both assets have tumbled by double digits (19% and $14%, respectively) to $1.47 and $1.62.
The cumulative market cap of all crypto assets has lost over $350 billion in two days and is down to $3.4 trillion on CG.
Binance Free $600 (CryptoPotato Exclusive): Use this link to register a new account and receive $600 exclusive welcome offer on Binance (full details).
LIMITED OFFER for CryptoPotato readers at Bybit: Use this link to register and open a $500 FREE position on any coin!
Disclaimer: Information found on CryptoPotato is those of writers quoted. It does not represent the opinions of CryptoPotato on whether to buy, sell, or hold any investments. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use provided information at your own risk. See Disclaimer for more information.
Cryptocurrency charts by TradingView.
Cryptocurrency
Top Cardano (ADA) Price Forecasts: Further Decline or a Rise to a New ATH?
TL;DR
- Analysts highlight a potential breakout for ADA, supported by bullish chart patterns and upcoming developments for Cardano.
- However, recent whale sales of millions of tokens could negatively affect the price.
The Bullish Scenario
Despite the solid start to the year, the past few days have not been kind to the cryptocurrency market. Bitcoin’s (BTC) price has plummeted by around 9% on a 48-hour scale, while numerous altcoins have suffered even more substantial declines.
Cardano’s ADA is one of those, with its valuation dumping by 20% since January 7. Currently, it trades at around $0.91 (per CoinGecko’s data), while its market capitalization fell well below $35 billion.
The popular X user Dan Gambardello, though, remains an optimist. Recently, he claimed that ADA has “one of the most bullish weekly pattern setups in crypto,” which represents an “inverse head and shoulders with upward sloping neckline.” Gambradello assumed that a breakout to the upside could result in a price rally to as high as $7.
Altcoin Daily chipped in, too. At the start of the year, they outlined bullish predictions about multiple cryptocurrencies, envisioning ADA’s valuation to hit $6.45 sometime in 2025. It is worth mentioning that the analyst said this target should not be taken for granted, suggesting that “any altcoin can theoretically go to zero at any time.“ They also warned people to invest only as much as they are ready to lose.
Meanwhile, Cardano is set to undergo some essential developments in the next 12 months that could trigger upward pressure on the price of the native token. Those willing to check what’s on the agenda can take a look at our dedicated video below:
How About a Further Pullback?
Contrary to the aforementioned bullish predictions, some factors signal that ADA could continue plunging in the near future. Earlier this week, the X user Ali Martinez revealed that whales have sold over 70 million tokens in the span of 48 hours.
Such actions from large investors increase the circulating supply of ADA and could be followed by a price decline (assuming demand doesn’t catch up with the pace). Additionally, the move may discourage smaller players and trigger a more substantial selling spree.
Binance Free $600 (CryptoPotato Exclusive): Use this link to register a new account and receive $600 exclusive welcome offer on Binance (full details).
LIMITED OFFER for CryptoPotato readers at Bybit: Use this link to register and open a $500 FREE position on any coin!
- Forex2 years ago
Forex Today: the dollar is gaining strength amid gloomy sentiment at the start of the Fed’s week
- Forex2 years ago
How is the Australian dollar doing today?
- Forex2 years ago
Unbiased review of Pocket Option broker
- Forex2 years ago
Dollar to pound sterling exchange rate today: Pound plummeted to its lowest since 1985
- Cryptocurrency2 years ago
What happened in the crypto market – current events today
- World2 years ago
Why are modern video games an art form?
- Commodities2 years ago
Copper continues to fall in price on expectations of lower demand in China
- Forex2 years ago
The dollar is down again against major world currencies