On January 8th, crypto sentiment analysis platform Santiment stated that market engagement interest within the crypto community is rising, concentrated in the following areas:
Meme tokens: Tokens like PEPE, POPCAT, and MOG saw strong price increases, with a speculative rally driving a significant rise in the market capitalization of the meme coin sector, attracting traders' attention again after a difficult 2025. Even well-known meme coins, such as DOGE, PEPE, and SHIB, saw gains thanks to renewed retail participation, indicating that community-driven hype cycles can still propel the market despite previous bearish sentiment.
Real-World Assets (RWA): Blockchain platforms like Solana have reported record highs in tokenized real-world assets, making RWA a hot narrative for institutional liquidity and diversified crypto investments. Crypto investors are also exploring RWA tokens from projects like Ondo and Clearpool, with the potential of on-chain bonds, real estate, and other traditional assets attracting traders seeking alternatives to pure speculation.
ETFs: Major institutions have submitted applications for new products, including Morgan Stanley's proposed Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana ETFs, indicating that large banks are taking regulated cryptocurrency investments seriously. Structured investment vehicles can attract institutional capital and influence market trends.
