Meme Surge 30x: Memes Return, Monero ATH, Sharplink CEO Interview

PsyopAnime jumps 30x as Monero hits a fresh all-time high, while Sharplink CEO points to institutions returning to BTC and ETH

Crypto markets were broadly higher as several high-beta tokens posted outsized moves, led by a 30x surge in the PsyopAnime meme token and a fresh all-time high for privacy coin Monero (XMR). The moves came as executives and policy makers separately debated where long-term crypto demand is likely to come from: retail-driven meme cycles or institution-led adoption centered on major assets.

Major tokens were modestly green on the day, with bitcoin up 1.5% to $92,000 and ether up 1% to $3,130. Solana rose 2% to $142 and XRP gained 1% to $2.06. Among top movers, DASH climbed 60% and IP rose 30%, while XMR added 13% after printing another new all-time high at $680 before pulling back to around $640.

The sharp move in PsyopAnime—described in a video segment as an “explosive 30X surge”—renewed discussion about whether meme coins are regaining momentum. At the same time, Monero’s breakout highlighted continued demand for privacy-focused assets, even as the wider market traded in a risk-on tone.

In an interview featured on Cointelegraph’s “The Rollup,” Joseph Chalom, CEO of SharpLink, addressed the divide between short-term speculation and longer-term capital flows. Chalom said “new buyers are not going to be here for memecoins,” arguing that institutions that allocate to crypto tend to focus on the investment thesis around bitcoin and ether and are more likely to buy and hold those assets.

Chalom is described as the CEO of SharpLink, a major corporate treasury holder of Ethereum, and as a steward behind the launch of ETH Labs and Ethereum Institutional. In the same discussion, he also said the market needs to “get out of the AI buzz and bubble,” referencing his recent travel in Asia and the shifting behavior of some of the region’s most active crypto participants.

Policy and market structure developments provided additional context for the day’s price action. The U.S. Senate released a draft “Crypto Market Clarity Act,” which includes proposed limits on stablecoin rewards. Senator Elizabeth Warren pressed the SEC on crypto exposure in 401(k) plans, arguing it could subject retirees to undue risk.

Industry figures also weighed in on stablecoin design. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin warned that crypto needs better decentralized stablecoins, citing risks tied to governance capture and inflation.

Elsewhere, World Liberty Financial launched a crypto lending platform built around its USD1 stablecoin, which attracted roughly $20 million. Custody firm BitGo filed for a U.S. IPO targeting an approximately $2 billion valuation as its assets under custody surpassed $100 billion.

Regulatory scrutiny also intensified in prediction markets. Tennessee regulators ordered Polymarket, Kalshi, and Crypto.com to halt sports prediction markets and refund users, escalating a multi-state legal dispute.

Together, the day’s developments underscored a market balancing disparate forces: sudden meme-led spikes, renewed attention to niche assets like Monero, and an ongoing push to define the rules and infrastructure that could shape the next phase of institutional participation.