Latest Memecoin (MEME) Price Analysis

By CMC AI
23 January 2026 03:00AM (UTC+0)

Why is MEME’s price down today? (23/01/2026)

TLDR

Memecoin (MEME) fell 7.19% over the last 24h, underperforming the broader crypto market's 0.64% dip. This extends a weak 7-day trend (-4.01%) despite a positive 30-day move (+13.89%). Here are the main factors:

  1. Sector-Wide Profit-Taking – The memecoin sector's market cap fell 6% on January 20 as a brief trading volume spike to $5.62B signaled heavy churn, not new capital.

  2. Technical Downtrend Pressure – Price sits below all major moving averages, with the RSI at 45.93 showing no oversold bounce, indicating continued bearish momentum.

  3. Broad Market Caution – Bitcoin's drop below $92K and a "Fear" sentiment reading (index 34) reduced risk appetite for speculative assets like MEME.

Deep Dive

1. Sector-Wide Profit-Taking (Bearish Impact)

Overview: On January 20, 2026, total memecoin trading volume briefly surged 106% to $5.62 billion before dropping over 24%, while the sector's market capitalization fell 6% according to CoinMarketCap. Analysts, including Vincent Liu of Kronos Research, noted this pattern reflects profit-taking, short-term flipping, and capital rotation rather than sustained bullish inflows.

What this means: For MEME, this is bearish because it operates within a highly sentiment-driven sector. When sector-wide volume spikes alongside falling prices, it indicates that sellers are overwhelming buyers. This dynamic is exacerbated by the memecoin sector's fragility after a 2025 washout, where over 11.6 million crypto projects failed. MEME, lacking intrinsic utility, is particularly vulnerable to this rapid capital rotation as traders lock in gains from its early-2026 rally and move to other narratives.

What to look out for: Watch for a stabilization in the broader memecoin market cap, which would signal the end of this profit-taking phase.

2. Technical Downtrend Pressure (Bearish Impact)

Overview: MEME's price of $0.00108 is below its key 7-day, 30-day, and 200-day Simple Moving Averages (SMAs), with the 200-day SMA at $0.0017799 acting as a distant resistance. The RSI-14 reading of 45.93 is in neutral territory, not yet oversold, suggesting room for further decline.

What this means: The technical picture reinforces the bearish sentiment. Trading below all major moving averages confirms a downtrend across short, medium, and long-term timeframes. The neutral RSI indicates there's no immediate buying pressure from traders looking for oversold bargains. This creates a negative feedback loop: weak technicals discourage new buyers, allowing sellers to push the price lower with less resistance.

What to look out for: A break above the 7-day SMA at $0.0011087 could signal short-term momentum reversal, while a sustained move above the 30-day SMA near $0.001103 is needed for a more bullish outlook.

Conclusion

MEME's decline is driven by a combination of speculative capital fleeing the broader memecoin sector and its own weak technical posture, which fails to attract counter-trend buyers. For holders, this highlights the coin's high-beta nature and sensitivity to shifts in market-wide risk appetite.

Key watch: Can Bitcoin hold above $90,000? MEME's near-term trajectory remains tightly linked to BTC's stability, as a further drop would likely trigger another wave of selling in speculative altcoins.

Why is MEME’s price up today? (22/01/2026)

TLDR

Memecoin (MEME) fell 3.98% in the last 24h, but its 30-day gain (+23.5%) reflects recent volatility. The dip aligns with broader market risk-off moves and profit-taking in memecoins.

  1. Market-wide risk aversion – Bitcoin dropped to $91K, dragging speculative assets like MEME.

  2. Memecoin sector rotation – Spikes in volume (+106% on Jan 20) signaled short-term profit-taking.

  3. Technical bearish signals – Price dipped below key Fibonacci retracement levels.

Deep Dive

1. Macro Risk-Off Shift (Bearish Impact)

Overview: Bitcoin fell 1.8% to $90.8K on Jan 20 amid U.S.-EU tariff tensions, triggering $360M in crypto liquidations. Memecoins underperformed, with the CoinDesk Memecoin Index down 3.91%.
What this means: MEME, as a high-beta asset, is sensitive to BTC movements. Thin liquidity in altcoins amplifies downside during macro selloffs. The Fear & Greed Index (34/100) reflects cautious sentiment.
What to look out for: BTC holding $85K–$95K range; a breakdown could worsen MEME’s liquidity crunch.

2. Memecoin Profit-Taking Cycle (Mixed Impact)

Overview: MEME’s trading volume briefly spiked to $5.6B on Jan 20 before dropping 24%, per CoinMarketCap. Market cap fell 6% despite volume surge.
What this means: Analysts like Kronos Research’s Vincent Liu attribute this to churn – traders flipping positions rather than new capital inflows. MEME’s 30-day rally (+23.5%) likely invited profit-taking.
What to look out for: Sustained volume above $3B to confirm renewed interest.

3. Technical Breakdown (Bearish Bias)

Overview: MEME broke below the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement ($0.001297). The MACD histogram (-0.00000512) and RSI14 (52.24) show weakening momentum.
What this means: The next support is the 38.2% Fib level ($0.001225). A close below $0.001167 (50% retracement) could trigger further downside.

Conclusion

MEME’s dip reflects macro headwinds and sector-specific profit-taking, with technicals hinting at near-term bearish pressure. While its 30-day uptrend remains intact, low liquidity and BTC correlation pose risks.
Key watch: Can MEME hold $0.0011 (30-day SMA) if BTC stabilizes? Monitor spot volumes for signs of retail re-entry.

CMC AI can make mistakes. Not financial advice.