Remember the days when a simple dog meme could ignite a global investment frenzy? The story of DOGE transforming from a "joke coin" to a top-tier cryptocurrency once convinced many that memes could create wealth. But reality is often harsher—its current price has fallen to $0.12, down 82% from its all-time high, prompting investors to ask: Is this Meme craze truly over? Does DOGE have a chance to rebound in 2026?

Honestly, the answer might be more complicated than you think. DOGE's success has never been rooted in technological innovation but in traffic. Back then, a meme, a few influential figures' promotion, and viral social media spread were enough to turn a digital asset into a phenomenon. But that’s the problem—assets driven by traffic tend to have very short lifespans.

Looking at the current market: the hype around Meme culture has noticeably faded, and participants have become much more rational. The era of willingly paying premiums for "sentiment" and "creativity" is gradually fading away. This is the first dilemma DOGE faces—the trump card (traffic effect) is losing its appeal.

Even more painfully, the decline in community activity is evident. Data shows that metrics like daily discussion volume and engagement within the DOGE community have dropped over 60% compared to the peak in 2021. This isn’t just a decline in hype; the key issue is community renewal—most of the active members are old fans holding on, while new user influx is nearly stagnant. Without fresh blood, relying solely on emotional bonds makes it difficult to sustain a second wave.

The fate of Meme coins might be like this: they shine brightly during traffic peaks, but when hype fades and new concepts emerge, it’s hard to regain the public’s attention. DOGE still has its fan base and cultural symbolism, but if it wants to stage a comeback in 2026? Relying solely on sentiment and stories might not be enough.