Pepe Coin Jumps 36% as James Wynn Makes Huge Prediction: Will PEPENODE Pump Higher?

Meme coins are showing signs of life again as capital begins rotating back into higher-risk segments of the crypto market. PEPE has led that move, leaping 36% in 24 hours and renewing speculation that the meme coin sector could be entering its next expansion phase.

The move follows comments from veteran crypto trader James Wynn, who forecasts PEPE could eventually reach a $69 billion market cap if the broader bull market continues. Wynn’s remarks are optimistic – but PEPE’s performance over the last few days indicates that we could see a new meme coin bull run this year.

At the same time, attention is focused on utility-heavy projects that also draw on the meme coin sector. PEPENODE, the mine-to-earn GameFi project with less than a week remaining in its presale, is receiving widespread attention on social media and may be poised to follow PEPE’s lead as the next crypto to explode.

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James Wynn Sees PEPE Repeating Past Meme Coin Cycles

James Wynn, the long-time crypto market analyst known for tracking macro cycles and speculative assets, argues that PEPE’s recent price drop mirrors conditions seen before previous meme coin rallies. While the total crypto market has lost significant value over the past three months, Wynn believes the broader bull cycle remains intact.

In comments shared on X, Wynn compared PEPE’s current price action to Shiba Inu’s run during the last bull market, when SHIB surged from a market cap of roughly $3.5 billion to more than $40 billion in under a month. He also pointed to Dogecoin’s previous top near $88 billion as evidence that large meme coins can reach valuations well beyond current expectations when sentiment turns.

According to Wynn, social engagement remains one of the strongest drivers of meme coin performance. He highlighted PEPE’s visibility across exchanges, marketing campaigns, and crypto culture as a key advantage. Based on these factors, Wynn set a $69 billion market cap target for PEPE, a level that would imply an almost 30x move from a current market cap of $2.4 billion if achieved.

Why Traders Are Looking Beyond PEPE to PEPENODE

While PEPE represents established meme coin exposure, expert traders are now scanning for early-stage projects that could benefit even more from a meme-driven rebound. PEPENODE is, according to our research, the first multimillion-dollar project set to leave its presale stage in 2026, and a project primed to thrive in a meme coin rally.

Unlike traditional meme coins, PEPENODE combines meme branding with an exciting use case: virtual mining of meme coins as part of a Web3 game. Instead of relying solely on price speculation, the project allows holders to buy in-game digital mining nodes that can be upgraded within a browser-based environment. Rewards (paid out in PEPENODE, PEPE, and FARTCOIN) are generated through interaction, progression, and strategic choices rather than passive holding alone.

The project’s deflationary token design adds another layer that appeals to cycle-focused meme coin investors: 70% of PEPENODE tokens spent on upgrades will be permanently burned. Emissions also follow a declining schedule, reflecting real-world mining economics rather than open-ended token issuance.

With PEPENODE completing its presale in six days and preparing for exchange listings, analysts are anticipating pumps once the wider market becomes aware of the project. Exchanges are keen to list coins that have proven successful in presales, and with more than $2.51 million raised so far, PEPENODE has demonstrated its ability to capture attention in the $45 billion meme coin market.

While PEPE’s upside is tied to market-wide sentiment shifts, PEPENODE’s model introduces additional catalysts through gameplay adoption, node upgrades, and ongoing token burns – something investors will consider when managing their portfolios. In previous cycles, newly launched meme-adjacent projects have often outperformed larger incumbents during the early stages of a sector rotation – and that historical pattern is another reason why PEPENODE is being discussed alongside PEPE as meme interest rebuilds in 2026.

Looking Ahead: Could PEPENODE Be the Next PEPE?

James Wynn’s outlook on PEPE has reignited optimism around meme coins at a time when market sentiment is starting to recover. Whether PEPE ultimately approaches the valuations Wynn outlined remains uncertain, but renewed attention on the sector is clear.

As that attention spreads, projects like PEPENODE, which combine meme culture with structured mechanics and deflationary design, are at the front of the line for capturing early-cycle momentum. With the market entering a new phase in 2026, traders appear increasingly willing to look beyond established names in search of the next major move. PEPENODE buyers also benefit from staking APY rates of up to 541%, and the tokens themselves are priced at $0.0012161 – although that value could suddenly surge when exchange trading begins.