The recent surge in memecoin activity has reignited interest in PEPE, a frog-themed cryptocurrency that initially attracted attention for its high-risk, high-reward profile. This renewed momentum has sparked excitement among investors, largely due to whale transactions and listings on major exchanges. Notably, one investor’s $26 bet on PEPE turned into a whopping $61.5 million, demonstrating the extreme profitability of this niche.

A Strategic Investment That Brings Returns

In April 2023, an early investor analyzed PEPE's growth potential and decided to invest just 0.013 ETH, which was worth about $26 at the time. This calculated move allowed him to purchase 2.52 trillion PEPE tokens when the cryptocurrency was still unknown.

As the months went by, the value of these tokens skyrocketed, fueled by increased interest and a bullish market trend. As a result, the initial investment skyrocketed to $61.5 million, cementing the deal as one of the most profitable in recent crypto history.

However, despite the huge returns, investors face a significant hurdle. The wallet associated with the investment has been blacklisted by the token developers, effectively making these huge returns unreachable. The reason behind this blacklisting remains unclear, with neither the developers nor public analysts providing any details.

Whale Trading Fuels PEPE's Price Surge

Aside from individual investments, whale activity has played a major role in PEPE’s recent price surge. On-chain data from Lookonchain shows that a whale deposited 500 billion PEPE tokens, worth about $11.38 million, into Coinbase.

Furthermore, the whale had been accumulating these tokens for months, spending 1,173 ETH, or about $2.04 million, to buy them between May and September 2023. The extended holding period paid off as PEPE’s valuation skyrocketed, turning the whale’s holdings into a significant profit.

Furthermore, another major investor transferred 197.39 billion tokens, worth approximately $4.8 million, out of Binance. This continuous wave of whale activity signals strong investor confidence in PEPE’s potential and contributes to its significant price increase.

Exchange Listing and Market Psychology

Additionally, PEPE's listing on major exchanges has also boosted its price and trading volume. Recent announcements from exchanges such as Coinbase, Robinhood, and Upbit have significantly amplified PEPE's exposure and demand.

As a result, the increased availability of the token has led to a surge in trading, culminating in a 120% price increase over the past week. In a notable moment, PEPE hit a new all-time high of $0.00002524, supported by bullish sentiment and increased trading activity.

However, the rally was accompanied by typical market volatility. After peaking, the price experienced a pullback, stabilizing at $0.00002232. Since then, the market has seen consolidation as traders adjusted their strategies following the strong buying wave. Despite the recent decline, PEPE’s market capitalization has reached $9.41 billion, while its trading volume stood at $20.77 billion.