Why did the price of BONK go up?
Bonk (BONK) increased by 4.94% in the past 24 hours, outperforming the overall crypto market, which rose by 3.23%. Trading volume jumped 117.8% to $319 million, showing strong buying interest. The main reasons behind this growth are:
- Grayscale Watchlist Inclusion
Bonk was added to Grayscale’s list of altcoins they are considering for future investment products, giving it institutional credibility. - X’s Smart Cashtags Feature
The upcoming launch of Smart Cashtags on X (formerly Twitter) will make it easier for users to track Solana-based tokens like BONK. - Positive Meme Coin Sentiment
A rebound in meme coins, led by PEPE’s 38% gain, has increased appetite for riskier assets like BONK.
Deep Dive
1. Institutional Validation (Positive Signal)
Grayscale, a major investment firm, added BONK to its "Assets Under Consideration" list for potential future investment products (Grayscale). This move shows growing institutional interest in BONK as a leading meme coin on the Solana blockchain. Similar filings for other coins like BNB and HYPE suggest serious evaluation by Grayscale.
Why it matters: Being on Grayscale’s watchlist boosts BONK’s credibility and could attract more investors who trust Grayscale’s vetting process. As meme coins gain traction with ETFs (like the proposed 2x BONK ETF from Tuttle Capital), demand for BONK may increase further.
What to watch: Look for official announcements about a Grayscale BONK trust or ETF filing.
2. X Platform Integration (Positive Signal)
X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, announced that it will launch "Smart Cashtags" in February 2026. This feature will allow users to tag assets like BONK and see live prices and charts directly within the app (X). Solana Labs highlighted that this will increase visibility for Solana-based tokens.
Why it matters: With over 500 million users on X, this feature could significantly boost retail interest in BONK. Making price tracking easier lowers barriers for new investors and can encourage more speculative trading.
3. Meme Coin Momentum (Positive Signal)
Meme coins have seen a strong comeback recently, with PEPE rising 38% and BONK up 11% earlier this week (Gate.io). BONK’s trading volume surged by 117.8%, aligning with this broader sector rebound.
Why it matters: Traders often view meme coins as high-risk, high-reward investments during market upswings. BONK’s high liquidity ($319 million daily volume) and fast transaction speeds on Solana make it a popular choice for leveraged trading.
What to watch: Sustained daily trading volume above $250 million would confirm strong ongoing interest.
Conclusion
BONK’s recent price increase is driven by growing institutional recognition, increased visibility through social media integration, and a broader positive trend in meme coins. However, meme coins remain highly volatile.
Key point to monitor: Can BONK maintain its price above the 7-day simple moving average ($0.00001078) if overall crypto market sentiment cools down?
What could affect the price of BONK?
BONK balances meme coin hype with real use on the Solana network. Token burns and growing interest from institutions could boost prices, but the usual risks of meme coins still apply.
- Token Burns & Ecosystem Growth – Burning 1 trillion tokens when reaching 1 million holders, plus sharing revenue with holders
- Solana Network Connection – BONK’s value depends on how well Solana and its DeFi apps do
- Memecoin Volatility – Market selloffs could quickly wipe out gains
Deep Dive
1. Deflationary Mechanics & Governance (Positive Signs)
Overview: BONK plans to burn 1 trillion tokens (about 1.2% of total supply) once it hits 1 million holders (currently around 950,300 as of January 14). Tools like BonkFun use half their fees to buy back and burn tokens, removing roughly $17 million worth from circulation each month at current prices. Bonk Inc., a company listed on Nasdaq (BNKK), aims to hold 5% of BONK’s supply by 2026.
What this means: Reducing the supply while demand grows (daily active users are up 37% year-over-year) could make BONK more valuable. However, this depends on BonkFun keeping its strong position (55% share) among Solana meme coin launches, competing with rivals like Pump.fun (CoinMarketCap).
2. Solana Ecosystem Dependency (Mixed Impact)
Overview: BONK is integrated with over 350 platforms including wallets, DeFi apps, and games, so its value is linked to Solana’s success. In July 2025, Solana ETFs attracted $33 million, but network issues like outages or congestion could hurt BONK’s price.
What this means: Solana’s price in 2026 is expected to range between $120 and $220, which sets a price corridor for BONK between $0.000008 and $0.000023. BONK dominates meme coin trading on Solana decentralized exchanges (44% of volume), which helps liquidity but also exposes it to shifts as investors move into AI or DeFi tokens (Decrypt).
3. Speculative Sentiment & Whales (Potential Risks)
Overview: Despite BONK’s use in staking and gaming, meme coins lost 61% of their market value in 2025. Large holders, who control about 0.15% of the supply in the top 10 wallets, caused a 14% price drop in a single day in May 2025.
What this means: BONK’s price swings are high, with 90-day volatility at 94%, compared to Bitcoin’s 45% and Solana’s 68%. The current Fear & Greed Index is neutral at 52, showing no panic, but a 24% weekly drop in derivatives open interest suggests traders are cautious (CoinGlass).
Conclusion
BONK’s success in 2026 depends on carrying out token burns while dealing with Solana’s network challenges and the ups and downs typical of meme coins. Key levels to watch are the $0.000008 price support and reaching 1 million holders. Will BONK’s real-world uses be enough to overcome the “greater fool” mentality common in meme coins? Keep an eye on Grayscale’s ETF decision expected in Q2 and Solana’s daily active user numbers.
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What are people saying about BONK?
The BONK community is divided between pride in Solana’s meme mascot and concerns about the ups and downs common to meme coins. Here’s what’s making waves right now:
- Solana’s meme leader – BONK benefits from the excitement around Solana’s network
- Token burns and ETF rumors – Speculation is driving short-term optimism
- Mixed technical signals – Positive price patterns face challenges from declining trading volume
- Concerns about market fatigue – Ongoing debates about BONK’s long-term potential
Deep Dive
1. @eguku15290: BONK as Solana’s Meme Default bullish
“Bonk is benefiting from Solana’s positive sentiment… When the market stabilizes, money flows back to memes with strong community support and liquidity.”
– @eguku15290 (723 followers · 550 likes · 2026-01-04 08:57 UTC)
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What this means: This is good news for BONK because it acts as a key token within Solana’s ecosystem, attracting investment when the market recovers. BONK’s early presence in Solana’s meme space gives it an advantage.
2. @FinOwlX: Token Burn and ETF Hype bullish
“Part of the BonkFun ecosystem… Strong positive sentiment continues” referring to plans to burn 1 trillion tokens
– @FinOwlX (691 followers · 2,148 likes · 2026-01-08 07:10 UTC)
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What this means: This is positive for BONK because burning tokens reduces supply, which can increase value. Additionally, rumors about potential leveraged ETFs (exchange-traded funds) could boost interest, though these remain unconfirmed and carry some risk.
3. @CryptoJoeReal: Double Bottom Breakout bullish
“Bullish chart pattern… Price Target: $0.00000807”
– @CryptoJoeReal (6,274 followers · 103K likes · 2025-12-30 19:56 UTC)
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What this means: This is cautiously optimistic for BONK. Technical traders see a possible short-term price increase, but the target price is still about 30% below the current price of $0.0000116, indicating some uncertainty.
4. @_Riskkk: Post-Hype Exhaustion bearish
“Declining trading volume shows lack of interest… the hype has faded.”
– @_Riskkk (1,780 followers · 2026-01-04 10:27 UTC)
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What this means: This is a warning for BONK. Lower trading activity and flat prices since late 2025 suggest that excitement around the coin is wearing off. There is resistance to price gains around $0.000020.
Conclusion
Opinions on BONK are mixed. Optimism about its connection to Solana and token supply management is balanced by concerns over technical signals and long-term sustainability. BONK remains relevant as Solana’s main meme coin, but keep an eye on the 30-day correlation coefficient with SOL (currently +0.82). If this drops below +0.6, it could indicate that BONK is starting to move independently from Solana’s price trends.
What is the latest news about BONK?
Bonk (BONK) is gaining attention from institutions and growing its ecosystem, even as meme coins remain volatile. Here are the key updates:
- Grayscale Watchlist Inclusion (January 13, 2026) – BONK was added to Grayscale’s list for possible future investment products.
- Smart Cashtags Integration on X (January 12, 2026) – BONK price tracking will be available on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
- TenX Acquisition (January 7, 2026) – TenX bought a large amount of BONK to expand its treasury and support Solana’s ecosystem.
In-Depth Look
1. Grayscale Watchlist Inclusion (January 13, 2026)
What happened:
Grayscale, a major digital asset manager, included BONK on its Q1 2026 list of “Assets Under Consideration.” This means they are reviewing BONK alongside 35 other cryptocurrencies to decide if they might create investment products like ETFs or trusts based on it.
Why it matters:
This is a cautiously positive sign for BONK. Institutional interest could make it easier for more investors to access BONK through regulated products. However, being on the list doesn’t guarantee any new products will launch. It shows that meme coins like BONK are starting to be taken more seriously, though regulatory challenges still exist.
(Grayscale)
2. Smart Cashtags Integration on X (January 12, 2026)
What happened:
X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, will introduce “Smart Cashtags” in February 2026. This feature lets users tag BONK in posts and see live price updates, charts, and related conversations directly within the app. Solana Labs confirmed that tokens like BONK on the Solana blockchain will be supported.
Why it matters:
This is a positive development for BONK because it increases exposure to over 450 million X users. More visibility could lead to higher interest and trading activity. However, the actual impact depends on how many users adopt this feature. While it makes tracking BONK easier, it doesn’t change the token’s underlying value or economics.
(X Platform)
3. TenX Acquisition (January 7, 2026)
What happened:
TenX Protocols (TSX-V: TNX) purchased about 219.7 billion BONK tokens, worth roughly $2.5 million, to add to its treasury. TenX cited BONK’s role in revitalizing retail activity on the Solana blockchain. This move fits with TenX’s strategy of operating cross-chain validators and follows a 55% price increase for BONK in January.
Why it matters:
This is a bullish sign because it shows BONK’s use beyond just being a meme coin—it’s connected to staking and network infrastructure. However, since TenX holds a large amount, any future selling could cause price swings. Also, BONK’s price is still 81% below its peak in 2024, so there’s room for growth but also risk.
(TenX)
Conclusion
BONK is navigating a mix of growing institutional interest, increased visibility, and real ecosystem use, while still facing the typical ups and downs of meme coins. The big question is whether Grayscale’s review or X’s new features can help BONK overcome its 57% drop over the past year.
What is expected in the development of BONK?
Bonk’s 2026 roadmap centers on growing liquidity, making the coin easier to use, and bringing in institutional investors.
- Liquidity Boost (2026) – Improving market access and trading systems
- Accessibility Expansion (2026) – Adding more wallets and payment options
- Institutional Adoption (2026) – Building partnerships and integrating with financial institutions
Deep Dive
1. Liquidity Boost (2026)
Overview: According to core contributor Nom’s January 2026 update, Bonk plans to increase liquidity across various trading platforms. This means making it easier to buy and sell larger amounts of BONK without big price swings. The focus will start on Solana-based decentralized exchanges (DEXs), with possible expansion to other blockchain networks like Ethereum later on.
What this means: This is good news for BONK holders because better liquidity usually means less price volatility and more trading activity. However, if the rollout takes longer than expected, it might slow down price growth temporarily depending on market conditions.
2. Accessibility Expansion (2026)
Overview: Bonk aims to connect with more wallets and payment channels in 2026 to make it simpler for everyday users to get started. This includes expanding BonkX banking tools that let users convert regular money (fiat) into BONK and developing easy-to-use mobile apps, especially for growing markets in Southeast Asia and Africa where Solana is gaining popularity.
What this means: This is positive for BONK because making it easier to buy and use the coin can attract more users and increase its usefulness. Still, there are risks if regulations in these regions become stricter.
3. Institutional Adoption (2026)
Overview: After TenX Protocols allocated $2 million to Bonk’s treasury in January 2026, Bonk is actively seeking partnerships with institutions for validator roles and staking services. Additionally, Grayscale added BONK to its watchlist in early 2026, showing growing interest from traditional finance.
What this means: This is promising for BONK because institutional involvement can help legitimize the coin and create steady demand. However, relying on decisions from large institutions means there’s some risk if they change their plans.
Conclusion
Bonk’s 2026 plans focus on deepening liquidity, expanding user access, and gaining institutional trust—moving beyond just being a meme coin. While efforts like cross-chain growth and validator partnerships could drive future success, timely execution and navigating changing regulations will be key. The big question remains: how will Bonk balance the excitement from retail traders with the stability that institutions require?
What updates are there in the BONK code base?
I wasn’t able to find useful information to answer this question right now. The CoinMarketCap team is continuously updating my crypto knowledge, so if any important details become available, I should have them soon. In the meantime, please feel free to choose another question or coin for analysis.