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Crypto markets are heading into the new week with several familiar names dominating online conversations. According to fresh social media data shared by Santiment, a handful of assets are generating unusually high levels of attention across platforms like X, Reddit, and Telegram. While hype alone does not move prices forever, it often explains short-term volatility and shifting trader focus.
At the top of the list sits PEPE. Santiment notes that <a href="https://captainaltcoin.com/heres-exactly-why-pepe-price-exploded-30/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">PEPE is trending due to a big rise</a> in social engagement following recent price volatility and heavy trading activity. Discussions point to retail buying, short squeezes, and bullish technical setups as key drivers. Many traders are comparing PEPE’s current momentum to earlier <a href="https://captainaltcoin.com/meme-coins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">meme</a> coin runs involving SHIB, DOGE, and BONK. That comparison alone has been enough to reignite speculative interest, with PEPE increasingly described as a leading meme coin fueling broader altcoin excitement.
Bitcoin is also drawing strong attention, though for very different reasons. Santiment highlights several fundamental developments driving discussion, including Bitfarms selling a Bitcoin mining site in Paraguay, Tether becoming one of the largest known BTC holders, and renewed talk around Bitcoin ETFs in South Korea. At the same time, traders are watching ETF outflows that closed out 2025 and large options expiries that could increase near-term volatility. Despite mixed signals, sentiment around Bitcoin remains broadly bullish, with many conversations focused on longer-term price expectations for 2026.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
 <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f5e3.png" alt="🗣" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;"> According to our social media data, coins generating the most hype to start the weekend, are: <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1fa99.png" alt="🪙" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;"> Pepe <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24PEPE&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">$PEPE</a>: Trending due to its association with the PEPE meme coin, which has experienced significant price volatility, rapid surges, and increased trading volume. Discussions… <a href="https://t.co/NtgJ0vm7cF" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">pic.twitter.com/NtgJ0vm7cF</a>— Santiment (@santimentfeed) <a href="https://twitter.com/santimentfeed/status/2007350900143030361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">January 3, 2026</a>
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E<a href="https://captainaltcoin.com/ethereum-price-to-10k-in-2026-this-long-term-eth-chart-says-the-setup-is-already-in-place/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">thereum continues to trend</a> as it trades near the $3,000 level. Santiment points to rising institutional inflows, active smart contract deployment, and sustained transaction volume as key themes. Online discussions also cover scaling progress, lower gas fees, Layer 2 growth, and ongoing debates around decentralization and governance. Ethereum’s role as a settlement layer for DeFi, NFTs, and on-chain payments keeps it central to altcoin conversations, even during quieter market periods.
Dogecoin is once again proving that meme coins remain a major force in retail sentiment. Santiment notes that Reddit and Telegram chatter is focused on DOGE’s recent price action, volatility, and comparisons with other large-cap cryptocurrencies. On X, traders are reacting to reports of whale accumulation, technical breakout patterns, and continued cultural relevance driven in part by public figures. As usual, momentum and speculation are tightly linked in DOGE discussions.
Solana is trending on the back of strong ecosystem interest. Santiment highlights conversations around staking, DeFi usage, rising TVL, and ongoing developer activity. Traders are also paying close attention to whale buying, ETF-related narratives, and Solana’s low fees and fast settlement speeds. Together, these factors are keeping SOL near the top of watchlists as capital continues to rotate into high-activity networks.
Finally, Crypto.com’s CRO token is seeing mixed but intense discussion. Santiment notes debates around staking rewards, token burns, utility within the Crypto.com ecosystem, and trust concerns raised by parts of the community. While some users remain skeptical, others are focused on potential roadmap improvements and ways CRO could be better integrated into the platform to drive engagement.
Overall, Santiment’s data shows a market driven by a mix of speculation, fundamentals, and narrative rotation. PEPE gets meme-driven momentum, Bitcoin and Ethereum anchor institutional and macro discussions, while DOGE, SOL, and CRO reflect ongoing interest in both culture and utility. As always, elevated attention often brings volatility, making these altcoins the ones to watch closely in the days ahead.
Read also: <a href="https://captainaltcoin.com/heres-exactly-why-pepe-price-exploded-30/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Here’s Exactly Why PEPE Price Exploded 30%</a>
Subscribe to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Captain-Altcoin" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">our YouTube channel</a> for daily crypto updates, market insights, and expert analysis.
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The post <a href="https://captainaltcoin.com/best-altcoins-to-watch-right-now-pepe-eth-and-more/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Best Altcoins to Watch Right Now: PEPE, ETH, and More</a> appeared first on <a href="https://captainaltcoin.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">CaptainAltcoin</a>.

Best Altcoins to Watch Right Now: PEPE, ETH, and More

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