According to Santiment social data, crypto discussions at the start of the week are being driven less by charts and more by narratives tied to risk, speculation, and geopolitics.
Santiment’s social-volume dashboard highlights five dominant themes shaping trader sentiment across platforms.
Meme Coin Momentum Takes the Lead
Meme coins sit at the top of social engagement rankings, with names like $TESTICLE and $FARTCOIN drawing outsized attention. Despite widespread frustration over repeated rug pulls, traders continue to chase meme coins for fast upside in a choppy market.
Santiment notes that $TESTICLE, in particular, is being framed socially as a “resilient” meme asset, with supporters pointing to community growth and claimed technical upgrades. The discussion reflects a familiar pattern: skepticism mixed with optimism, where hype remains powerful even after repeated failures across the meme sector.
Gold and Silver Surge as Bitcoin Slips
Another major topic is the sharp divergence between crypto and traditional safe havens. Bitcoin sold off early in the week amid fears of new U.S. tariffs on European countries, triggering liquidations and broader risk-off behavior.
At the same time, gold and silver pushed to record highs, driven by geopolitical uncertainty and renewed demand for safety. Social commentary suggests traders are closely watching whether Bitcoin can rebound after the commodity surge, or if capital rotation toward metals continues.
Whale Activity Fuels "Momentum Safety" Trades
Santiment also flagged a surge in whale-driven speculation across Solana and Binance Smart Chain ecosystems. Social data shows aggressive accumulation of newly launched tokens, leading to explosive short-term price moves, some exceeding 4,700%.
While momentum traders celebrate rapid gains, analysts warn that low liquidity and sniper activity are common in these environments. Social sentiment is split between enthusiasm for fast profits and caution over sustainability once early buyers exit.
Greenland Tariffs Escalate Market Anxiety
Geopolitics entered the crypto narrative as President Trump imposed 10% tariffs on eight European countries linked to opposition over Greenland-related policy. The European Union is reportedly preparing up to $100 billion in retaliatory tariffs.
This escalation has boosted gold’s appeal while weighing on Bitcoin sentiment, reinforcing the view that crypto still behaves like a risk asset during periods of geopolitical stress rather than a pure hedge.
Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF Inflows Return
Rounding out the top stories, spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs recorded their strongest inflows since October, pulling in more than $1.9 billion last week. Institutional participation is dominating the discussion, with social sentiment turning cautiously optimistic despite ongoing macro and political risks.
Alongside BTC and ETH, TRX, XRP, and Solana are also benefiting from ETF-related flows, suggesting capital is increasingly favoring larger, more established assets during uncertainty.