If you had $5,000 to invest in either $PEPE or $BONK right now, where should you put it? Both are top-tier meme coins in 2025, and both had massive runs in the last cycle. But with the market showing signs of recovery, some data points suggest that one may be better positioned than the other.
Let’s start with the basics.
BONK’s market cap is sitting around $1.4 billion, while PEPE is nearly triple that at $4 billion. That alone makes BONK feel like it has more upside potential. Lower market cap means there’s more room to grow, especially if the meme coin hype returns.
Now, let’s look at recent price action.
The BONK price pumped 34% during the current market bounce. PEPE? Just 5%. That’s not a typo – BONK’s performance was more than 6x stronger in the same timeframe. Is this a sign that momentum is shifting toward Solana’s leading meme coin?
Possibly.
It’s also worth pointing out that both PEPE and BONK are down around 65% from their all-time highs. That means they’re both still technically “cheap” by bull market standards. But BONK is the newer coin with more active development and ambitions. It wants to become the biggest meme coin behind only Dogecoin – and the undisputed king of Solana’s meme scene.
There’s another thing to consider: activity.
PEPE’s official X (Twitter) account hasn’t posted in over two weeks. Meanwhile, BONK’s account is posting regularly, sharing ecosystem updates, giveaways, and interacting with the community. In crypto, being loud matters – and BONK is definitely louder right now.
The Dog’s in costume & ready to play❗️❗️❗️
— BONK!!! (@bonk_inu) July 4, 2025
IF YOU OWN A @BONKArenaGame NFT, YOU CAN NOW SPAWN INTO THE ARENA WITH YOUR SKIN 🔥
$10,000 PRIZE POOL FOR PLAYERS
Play & post your best clips to get rewarded 💰
See you in the arena! 💥 pic.twitter.com/LdWTMMXdec
That said, smart money doesn’t seem too interested in either coin at the moment. According to Chainedge data, capital isn’t flowing heavily into meme coins like BONK or PEPE just yet. That might mean it’s still early – or that caution is still needed.
Still, if the question is where to put $5,000 today between the two, the answer might be BONK.
It’s cheaper, it’s performing better in the short term, and it has a more active and visible team. It may not have the same cultural power as PEPE – at least not yet – but it’s showing signs that it wants to get there.
And in meme coin land, that hunger matters.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for daily crypto updates, market insights, and expert analysis.
