With another bull cycle nearby, attention is shifting to low‑cost tokens with more substantial growth potential. Two coins under $5, Little Pepe (LILPEPE) and Stellar (XLM), are now positioned to challenge ADA’s market cap of $28 billion and possibly join Dogecoin (DOGE) in the top 10.
Little Pepe (LILPEPE): Meme Coin With Big‑League Potential
Little Pepe is quickly gaining recognition as more than just another meme coin. Backed by over $26 million raised in presale across 13 stages, the project has shown sustained demand from early buyers. Its price has climbed 120 % from the initial presale stage, proving that momentum is real and not hype‑driven.
What makes Little Pepe different is its infrastructure. Built as a sniper‑bot‑resistant, tax‑free token on EVM, the project removes the most common frustrations of meme trading: front‑running and high fees. Investors also take comfort in the fact that Little Pepe has passed a Certik audit and enforces a strict vesting schedule, reducing the risk of sudden pump‑and‑dump cycles that plague most meme tokens.
Another unique edge is the Little Pepe Launchpad, which aims to become a “breeding ground” for new meme coins. This ecosystem sets it apart from tokens that rely solely on community memes, providing LILPEPE with utility in onboarding future viral projects. Combined with mega giveaways, such as the ongoing 15 ETH reward campaign for buyers in presale stages 12–17, the token constantly fuels hype while rewarding loyalty.
With a launch price set at $0.003 and a $300 million market cap target, many analysts believe Little Pepe could experience sharp price discovery after CEX listings. If meme‑coin history repeats itself, LILPEPE’s trajectory could echo Dogecoin’s, making it a top‑10 threat in the next cycle.
Stellar: Institutional‑Grade Adoption Meets Undervalued Pricing
Stellar may have been quiet for months, consolidating between $0.35 and $0.45, but history suggests such periods often precede explosive moves. Analyst Chart Nerd predicts Stellar could rally between $1.50 and $3.30 this cycle, representing a massive upside from current levels.
Part of Stellar’s long‑term appeal lies in its institutional adoption. Already ISO‑compliant and widely used for cross‑border payments, Stellar received a fresh boost from the SEC’s approval of the Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index ETF, which will expand its holdings to include XLM. This opens the door to greater institutional inflows and improved liquidity in U.S. markets.
With a market cap of around $11.5 billion, XLM only needs a 3× rally to surpass Cardano, which is more than achievable considering the bullish historical and fundamental setups.
Why ADA Could Lose Its Spot
Cardano is showing signs of weakness after failing to convincingly break the $1 resistance. ADA has broken below key technical support, with profit‑taking accelerating and on‑chain metrics flashing bearish signals. With its price slipping toward $0.70, ADA risks losing investor trust while rivals are scaling faster with stronger adoption or unique community‑driven momentum.
Cardano’s market cap has shed significantly from a high of $40 billion in December. The narrative has shifted: instead of being a top growth candidate, ADA is increasingly seen as lagging behind more agile players. This environment creates the perfect storm for tokens like LILPEPE and XLM to step in and capture market share.
The Path to the Top 10
The roadmap to top 10 status is clear for both Little Pepe and Stellar. LILPEPE must secure tier‑1 exchange listings and leverage its meme‑focused launchpad to attract viral growth. If its community continues to expand at the current pace, flipping ADA becomes a real possibility.
For Stellar, the play is patience. Institutional flows from ETFs, alongside breakout technicals, could fuel a surge past $3 and beyond. With its low current price, XLM offers asymmetric upside for investors betting on utility‑driven adoption.
If ADA continues its slow trajectory, both these coins have the firepower to join Dogecoin in the top 10, one powered by memes and community virality, the other by institutional‑grade fundamentals.