Crypto Whale Gobbles Up $22M in PEPE Tokens Amid Memecoin Market Slump
While retail investors panic-sold during the latest memecoin dip, one deep-pocketed trader just made a jaw-dropping move—snagging $22 million worth of PEPE tokens in a single swoop.
Timing the dip or catching a falling knife? The whale’s massive buy-in comes as PEPE and other meme tokens shed 20-30% this week. Classic crypto: where ’fundamentals’ mean watching billionaire gambling habits instead of balance sheets.
This isn’t their first rodeo—the same wallet previously banked 7-figure gains on SHIB and DOGE trades. Now they’re doubling down on frog-themed internet money while analysts debate whether this signals market bottom or just another rich person’s speculative plaything.

- A newly activated whale wallet (0x6ea) bought 1.79 trillion PEPE tokens from Binance, spending over $22 million amid a memecoin market downturn.
- Despite this large buy, PEPE’s price dropped 8% in 24 hours, trading around $0.00001280, slightly reducing the whale’s portfolio value to ~$21.9 million.
- Another whale (0xaca) acquired 97 billion PEPE tokens for $1.28 million on KuCoin, indicating coordinated accumulation by big players.
PEPE, the widely followed memecoin, has found itself back in the spotlight after a significant on-chain transaction caught the attention of crypto analysts and investors. A newly activated whale wallet, identified as 0x6ea, made a massive withdrawal of 1.79 trillion PEPE tokens from Binance, a move valued at over $22 million. This bold accumulation occurred even as the broader cryptocurrency market, and memecoins in particular, faced sharp downward pressure.
A whale woke up after 2 years of dormancy, created a new wallet, and withdrew 1.79T $PEPE($22.23M) from #Binance.https://t.co/6483fMCH1d pic.twitter.com/NbyiZRsEcy
— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) May 17, 2025Despite the scale of the acquisition, PEPE’s price failed to respond positively. The token continued to slide, losing 8% in just 24 hours, and is currently trading around $0.00001280. The rapid price drop has already trimmed the whale’s portfolio value slightly, bringing it down to about $21.9 million. However, the scale and timing of the purchase suggest a level of confidence that raises eyebrows in a market dominated by fear and uncertainty.
PEPE’s decline is part of a larger trend affecting the altcoin sector. Memecoins, which enjoyed strong rallies in early 2025, are now bearing the brunt of the correction. Pi Coin, another trending meme coin, experienced the steepest decline among the top 100 cryptocurrencies, plunging 11% in a single day. This sector-wide pullback has shaken investor confidence, yet some large players appear to be seizing the moment as a buying opportunity.
The 0x6ea transaction wasn’t an isolated event. Blockchain data also shows that another wallet, labeled 0xaca, recently acquired 97 billion PEPE tokens via KuCoin, spending approximately $1.28 million. The close timing of these high-value transactions indicates a potential trend of strategic accumulation among crypto whales, who may be betting on a future rebound for PEPE and other memecoins once market conditions stabilize.
20 minutes ago, a fresh wallet 0x6ea withdrew totally 1.79T $PEPE (~$22.35M) from #Binance
9 hours before that, a wallet 0xaca also withdrew 96.9B $PEPE (~$1.28M) from #Kucoin.
Addresses:https://t.co/KwoIwhTtL7https://t.co/K2mT6hwiUf pic.twitter.com/MsJUCIlw5U
PEPE Whale Activity Signals Possible Reversal
What makes this situation particularly interesting is the contrast between retail and institutional behavior. While average investors may be panic-selling during this dip, some of the wealthiest participants in the space are buying aggressively. Whether this signals DEEP market insight or simply speculative risk-taking remains to be seen.
For now, Pepe is once again dominating crypto headlines, and its price trajectory in the coming days could provide more clues about investor sentiment. If these whale purchases are part of a coordinated strategy, they could help establish a price floor and even trigger a reversal. On the other hand, if the broader market downturn continues, these acquisitions may go down as high-risk plays in an already volatile segment of the crypto ecosystem.
One thing is certain: the whale activity surrounding PEPE has reignited interest in the memecoin sector, injecting fresh volatility and a renewed sense of intrigue into an otherwise bearish market.
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