In the world of cryptocurrency, sometimes it’s not just about the big names like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Two lesser-known tokens, PEPE and MOG, have recently been making headlines for their consistent increase in value, driven by rising interest and optimism in the Ethereum ecosystem.

PEPE, featuring a frog-themed design, and MOG, adorned with a cat motif, have experienced unprecedented gains, reaching record highs on Monday.

The surge in value can be attributed to last week’s approval of key ether (ETH) exchange-traded fund (ETF) filings in the U.S., which has prompted some traders to view meme tokens like PEPE and MOG as potential beta bets.

Over the past 24 hours, PEPE has soared by 11% while MOG has seen an astonishing 45% jump in value. These gains are significant, especially considering the broader market context.

While Bitcoin (BTC) experienced a slight decline of 1%, Ethereum rose nearly 5%, leading the charge among major tokens. The CoinDesk 20 index, which tracks the largest tokens excluding stablecoins, saw a marginal decrease of 0.3%.

The surge in PEPE and MOG prices has been accompanied by a surge in trading volumes and open interest in futures contracts.

PEPE’s trading volumes across spot and futures markets surpassed $1.8 billion, compared to its usual range of $400 million to $600 million.

Similarly, futures data indicates a notable increase in open interest for both PEPE and MOG-tracked instruments, signaling the entry of new capital into the market.

Despite the bullish momentum, data from Coinalyze shows that the long-to-short ratio for PEPE is skewed in favor of bears, with 54% of traders betting against further price rises.

This suggests a degree of caution among investors, indicating that the market sentiment is not entirely one-sided.

The rally in PEPE and MOG tokens began when analysts raised the likelihood of Ethereum ETFs being approved for trading in the U.S. These tokens are considered by some traders as leveraged bets on the Ethereum ecosystem’s growth, hence their significant price appreciation in response to positive developments in the ETH market.

Since 2023, meme tokens like PEPE and MOG have gained prominence as beta bets on the ecosystems they are based on.

As the Ethereum network continues to expand and gain mainstream acceptance, tokens like PEPE and MOG are riding the wave of optimism, attracting attention from investors looking to capitalize on the potential upside of the Ethereum ecosystem.

The recent surge in PEPE and MOG tokens underscores the dynamic nature of the cryptocurrency market, where even obscure tokens can experience explosive growth under the right conditions.

As traders continue to monitor developments in the Ethereum ecosystem, the fate of tokens like PEPE and MOG will remain closely tied to the broader trends in the digital asset space.

Kabosu, the Shiba Inu whose viral image became the face of the cryptocurrency Dogecoin, has died at the age of 17.

Her owner announced the sad news in a heartfelt blog post on Friday. Kabosu’s image, featuring her expressive, quizzical look, has become one of the most recognizable and beloved memes on the internet.

“We will be holding a farewell party for Kabo-chan on Sunday, May 26th,” the blog post read.

The farewell will take place at Flower Kaori in Kotsu no Mori, Narita City, from 1 pm to 4 pm. Fans of Kabosu are invited to attend and pay their respects to the dog who has brought joy to millions around the world.

Kabosu first rose to fame in 2010 when her owner, Atsuko Sato, a Japanese kindergarten teacher, posted a series of photos of her on her personal blog. One particular photo, showing Kabosu with her paws crossed and a bemused expression, quickly went viral.

The image spawned the “Doge” meme, characterized by multicolored text in Comic Sans font representing the dog’s inner monologue in broken English.

In 2013, software engineers Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer created Dogecoin as a parody of the burgeoning cryptocurrency market, using Kabosu’s iconic image as its logo. What started as a joke soon gained a substantial following, and Dogecoin became a legitimate digital currency.

It was used for tipping online content creators, raising funds for charitable causes, and even sponsoring sports teams.

Kabosu’s influence extended beyond Dogecoin. Her image inspired the creation of numerous other dog-themed cryptocurrencies, such as Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Floki (FLOKI).

These tokens have collectively become a significant part of the cryptocurrency market, demonstrating Kabosu’s lasting impact.

Kabosu’s legacy is not only limited to her contribution to internet culture and cryptocurrency. She has also been a symbol of positivity and resilience.

Adopted from a shelter in 2008, Kabosu’s story highlighted the importance of pet adoption and the joy that rescued animals can bring into our lives.

As news of Kabosu’s passing spread, tributes poured in from around the globe. Fans and cryptocurrency enthusiasts took to social media to share their favorite “Doge” memes and express their gratitude for the happiness Kabosu brought into their lives.

“Rest in peace, Kabosu. You brought so much joy to the world,” one Twitter user wrote, echoing the sentiments of many others.

Kabosu’s farewell party on May 26th is expected to be a celebration of her life and the indelible mark she left on internet culture. While she may be gone, Kabosu’s legacy will undoubtedly live on through the countless memes, the thriving Dogecoin community, and the fond memories of her fans worldwide.

The cryptocurrency market shed $2.5 trillion in value as the prices of major cryptocurrencies Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) dropped within the past 24 hours.

This decline comes despite the recent approval of several Ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for listing on U.S. exchanges.

According to CoinGecko data, Ether has decreased by 4% since the ETF approvals, reversing the gains it made earlier in the week when it rose 20% amid speculation and updated odds favoring the ETF listings.

The broader CoinDesk 20 index, which tracks the most liquid and widely traded cryptocurrencies, fell by 4.5% over the same period.

“Ethereum’s sell-off on positive news is a typical ‘buy the rumors, sell the facts’ reaction of speculators,” explained Alex Kuptsikevich, a senior market analyst at FxPro, in an email to CoinDesk.

“We shouldn’t be surprised if the price pulls back to the $3000 area again, returning to an important consolidation area. From these levels, large institutional investors can start building a position in ETFs.”

Kuptsikevich also noted a similar market behavior observed in January, following the approval of the first Bitcoin ETF, which saw Bitcoin prices drop by 19% in the subsequent two weeks before a substantial reversal.

On Thursday, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved regulatory filings for Ether ETFs, marking a historic milestone for the second-largest cryptocurrency.

While the SEC has approved the 19B-4 form, allowing for the offering and listing of ETFs, the funds still require the green light on their S-1 filings before investors can trade them.

The SEC’s approval covered documents for eight ETFs from major financial firms, including VanEck, Fidelity, Franklin, Grayscale, Bitwise, ARK Invest 21Shares, Invesco Galaxy, and BlackRock, to be listed on the Nasdaq, NYSE Arca, and Cboe BZX exchanges.

Industry analysts predict that if these ETFs are approved for trading, it could lead to a significant influx of institutional capital into the cryptocurrency market.

Standard Chartered has forecasted potential inflows of up to $45 billion within the first 12 months of trading.

Despite the recent downturn, some traders remain optimistic about Ether’s future performance. They anticipate a rally of over 60% in the coming months, citing increased futures and spot buying demand for the token in the past week.

As the market adjusts to the new regulatory landscape and investor sentiment, the coming days will be crucial in determining whether this downturn is a temporary correction or the start of a more prolonged bear phase for cryptocurrencies.