Pepeto Presale Surpasses $7.2 Million As PEPE Co-Founder Launches Meme-Utility Ecosystem
Pepeto (PEPETO) has secured over $7.2 million in presale funding, targeting a $10 million cap before its planned debut on major exchanges.The project, reportedly developed by a PEPE co-founder, differentiates itself from pure speculative assets by offering working DeFi infrastructure, including a swap and cross-chain bridge.Operational demo versions of PepetoSwap and the Pepeto Bridge are already live, with a confirmed Binance listing scheduled following the presale conclusion.The memecoin market is witnessing a shift toward utility-driven assets as Pepeto (PEPETO), an Ethereum-based project, surpasses the $7.2 million milestone in its ongoing presale. Emerging during a period of market volatility, the project seeks to capitalize on the branding success of its predecessor, PEPE, while integrating a suite of decentralized finance (DeFi) tools designed to solve liquidity and interoperability issues within the meme economy.Unlike traditional memecoins that rely almost exclusively on social sentiment, Pepeto has launched with working demo products. The ecosystem includes PepetoSwap, a zero-fee decentralized exchange (DEX), and the Pepeto Bridge, which facilitates cross-chain transfers between fragmented networks. According to the development team, these tools are intended to act as the “infrastructure layer” for a meme economy that has historically struggled with high transaction costs and security risks like rug pulls.The project’s connection to an original PEPE co-founder has served as a significant catalyst for investor interest. This stakeholder reportedly left the original PEPE team to build an evolved model that combines viral culture with sustainable revenue engines. To ensure investor confidence, Pepeto’s smart contracts have undergone dual security audits by SolidProof and Coinsult, a move aimed at distancing the project from the “vaporware” reputation of many micro-cap launches.”Pepeto was built as infrastructure for a meme economy worth billions but scattered across dozens of chains,” a Pepeto team representative stated. “Working demos are live. Full launch is imminent.” Currently, PEPETO is available at a presale rate of $0.000000185, with approximately 70% of the allocation already filled. The project has also introduced a staking framework offering yields as high as 212% APY to incentivize long-term holding. As the presale nears its $10 million hard cap, the team has confirmed that preparations for Binance onboarding are underway, marking the transition from private allocation to open market price discovery. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind. Readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions.
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Bitcoin Dips Below $65K Sparking As Tariff Policy Uncertainty Mounts
Bitcoin fell 4.6% from $67,600 to $64,435 in under two hours during early Asian trading on February 23, 2026.
Over $505 million in crypto positions were liquidated in the past 24 hours, with Bitcoin accounting for $232 million and Ethereum $126 million.
Long positions represented 93% of liquidations, totaling roughly $468 million across 137,000+ traders.
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index dropped to an “extreme fear” reading of 5/100, a level not seen since earlier 2026 downturns.
Analysts cite U.S. tariff policy uncertainty and geopolitical risks as key drivers, with no major crypto-specific catalyst.
Bitcoin experienced sharp volatility Monday as it briefly traded below $65,000, erasing weekend gains and amplifying downside pressure across risk assets.
The leading cryptocurrency dropped from around $67,600 to a low of $64,435 in less than two hours amid early Asian trading hours. At the time of reporting, BTC had partially recovered to trade near $66,280, still down approximately 2.7% on the day.
This price action triggered more than $505 million in liquidations across cryptocurrency futures markets, per data from CoinGlass. Bitcoin and Ethereum positions accounted for nearly 70% of the total, with long-side liquidations dominating at 93%, or about $434 million, as detailed in a CoinDesk report. A single $61.5 million BTC position on HTX marked the largest individual liquidation.
The sell-off unfolded against a backdrop of renewed U.S. trade policy uncertainty. The Supreme Court recently struck down much of President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. In response, the administration announced a 10% global tariff hike—later raised to 15%—under alternative authority, injecting fresh volatility into markets already sensitive to macro signals.
“The downturn was not triggered by a sudden ‘black swan’ event or unexpected negative news. Instead, it was driven by policy uncertainty stemming from fluctuations in U.S. tariff policy, compounded by rising geopolitical risks,” said Tim Sun, senior researcher at HashKey Group. Sun added that crypto assets remain “firmly anchored at the far end of the risk curve,” making them vulnerable when traditional risk appetite contracts.
Supporting data underscored the capitulation. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index hit its lowest level in months at 5 out of 100, while Glassnode tracked nearly $500 million in daily net realized losses among short-term Bitcoin holders. Prediction markets via Myriad showed the probability of Bitcoin reaching $84,000 in the near term falling to 37% from 46% just days earlier.
Beyond tariffs, sticky inflation readings and shifting Federal Reserve rate-cut expectations—now pricing out aggressive easing before July—further weighed on sentiment. Gold, meanwhile, rose over 1% as investors sought safety.
For crypto investors and traders, the episode highlights persistent correlation with traditional macro factors. While brief technical bounces are possible, sustained recovery likely requires stabilization in equities and clearer policy signals. With BTC still trading well below its 2025 highs near $126,000, downside risks remain if geopolitical or trade tensions escalate further.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind. Readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions.
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