If you’re hunting for under-$1 cryptos with real upside, there are a few names that deserve a serious look. One of them, Little Pepe (LILPEPE), is currently attracting attention. As of this writing, the presale price is $0.0022, and the value of early backers from stage 1 has increased by 120%. If it lists at $0.0030, that’s an implied 36% gain for presale buyers. It’s bold but plausible. We also examine PENGU (Pudgy Penguins) and PUMP (Pump.fun). Each brings a distinct flavor. And in comparing them, Little Pepe often emerges as the more balanced bet, not because we hype it, but because of how it’s built and where it may head.

Little Pepe (LILPEPE) — The Meme-Utility Hybrid

Calling this the “meme coin with purpose” isn’t just marketing. The team behind LILPEPE is building a Layer-2 chain optimized for meme tokens, featuring zero trade tax, anti-bot protection, and a built-in launchpad. In presale Stage 13, LILPEPE sells at $0.0022 as mentioned. Reports suggest that over 16.42 billion tokens out of the 17.25 billion planned have already been sold, indicating the presale is 95% full. It has also cleared a smart contract audit via Certik and is now listed on CoinMarketCap. These steps lend more legitimacy than a typical memecoin. The roadmap includes cross-chain plans, staking, and governance.

What’s striking: the trend interest in LILPEPE has outpaced even PEPE, DOGE, and SHIB in certain meme coin discussions. That suggests momentum beyond just hype. The implied potential gain from the presale to a $0.0030 listing is 36%, but this depends entirely on how the listing, market, and tokenomics play out.

PENGU (Pudgy Penguins) — The Established Meme Brand

As of this writing, PENGU’s market capitalization is in the $1 billion+ area, and its current price is $0.03011. It has a cultural footprint that many new tokens don’t have because of its association with the original Pudgy Penguins NFT initiative. It might not rise as sharply as a more recent token because it already has liquidity, community, and knowledge. But its downside is arguably more contained. If PENGU can integrate more DeFi or expand utility beyond memes and art, it could surprise to the upside. Yet we must be honest: much of the value is baked in already. To outperform in 2025, PENGU needs fresh catalysts, something beyond just NFT nostalgia.

PUMP (Pump.fun) — Betting on The Creator E

PUMP is the native token of Pump.fun is a platform that lets users create meme coins easily on Solana. At the time of writing, PUMP trades around $0.003039. The core idea is optionality: if more creators launch meme tokens, demand for PUMP (for fees, platform staking, or governance) could rise. It’s riskier. Success depends on adoption, utility execution, and retention. But if Pump.fun becomes a go-to infrastructure for memecoin creators, PUMP has upside.

Why Little Pepe May Stand Out

Compared side by side, Little Pepe offers a hybrid path. It combines meme appeal, infrastructure, community, and momentum. PENGU leans more on brand legacy; PUMP bets on platform growth. But LILPEPE tries to do both. Because the presale is nearly filled, there’s scarcity and urgency. The audit and listing credentials add trust. And the roadmap is ambitious but not vague. All this suggests that LILPEPE has the structural ingredients to compete strongly in 2025.

Final Thoughts

If you’re building a small-caps under-$1 watchlist for 2025, the trio of LILPEPE, PENGU, and PUMP should definitely be on it. But we believe Little Pepe offers a more balanced chance to outperform. With the presale at $0.0022 and early holders already up 120%, the implied 36% gain to a $0.0030 listing is just one potential path. We don’t promise it will happen. But if momentum holds, the infrastructure is solid, and community support continues, Little Pepe may well surprise. In any case, it’s a bet worth watching more closely than many other meme plays out there.

For more information about Little Pepe (LILPEPE) visit the links below:

Website: https://littlepepe.com

Whitepaper: https://littlepepe.com/whitepaper.pdf

Telegram: https://t.me/littlepepetoken

Twitter/X: https://x.com/littlepepetoken