Shiba Inu returns to the starting point, but traders remain hopeful for 2026

What marked 2024 for SHIB was this spectacular rise of 462% in just a few months. The coin jumped from $0.000008 to nearly $0.000045 in March, before experiencing another surge in December. But now, it's 2026, and the SHIB price hovers around $0.000008 — exactly where it was before this wild rally of 2024. It’s a bit frustrating for those who hoped the momentum would continue.

So, can we really reach the March 2024 peak again? Analysts are divided. Some remain conservative: Changelly predicts a maximum of $0.00000990 for March 2026, while Coincodex estimates $0.000009598. These targets represent barely a 21% increase from the current price, far from the $0.00004534 high of 2024. But others are more optimistic, like Telegaon, which suggests SHIB could reach $0.0000543 in 2026 — ultimately surpassing the record set in 2024.

What could revive SHIB is primarily Bitcoin. Forecasts suggest that BTC could shift from a 4-year cycle to a 5-year cycle, potentially triggering a new bullish wave across the entire crypto market. Next, investors are starting to withdraw SHIB tokens en masse from exchanges — about 361 billion yesterday — reducing selling pressure. There’s also speculation about a potential ETF for Shiba Inu, with some institutions like T. Rowe Price already including SHIB in their portfolios.

However, obstacles remain real. The SHIB ecosystem faces internal challenges, including questions about the team’s direction and focus on other projects. These factors could hinder a sustainable rally. The coin prediction for 2026 will therefore depend on how these catalysts materialize in the face of the project’s structural challenges.