Shiba Inu Developers Reject Market Fears, Say the SHIB Cycle Is Far From Over

TL;DR

• The Shiba Inu team rejects claims that SHIB has completed its market cycle, arguing that broader crypto conditions still signal an unfinished expansion.
• Team member Lucie highlights market structure indicators and references comments from Changpeng Zhao, Brian Armstrong, Vitalik Buterin, and Michael Saylor that suggest strength rather than exhaustion.
• Despite recent volatility and a 61.8% yearly decline, developers say SHIB remains aligned with the broader crypto market and supported by ongoing ecosystem development.
  

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The Shiba Inu development team has pushed back against speculation that SHIB has reached the end of its current market cycle. Core contributors argue that recent price weakness reflects consolidation, not a breakdown in fundamentals, placing Shiba Inu within the same structural phase affecting the wider crypto market.

Crypto Market Structure and the Supercycle Question

“A super cycle is close, but I could be wrong too.”
Changpeng Zhao

That uncertainty reflects the market better than confidence ever could.

2025 did not feel like a completed cycle. There was no broad expansion, no sustained… pic.twitter.com/qhzsgO7P2a

— 𝐋𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐄 (@LucieSHIB) January 22, 2026

Lucie, a prominent member of the Shiba Inu team, addressed these concerns in a detailed statement shared on X. She explained that current market conditions do not resemble typical end-of-cycle phases. Indicators such as excessive leverage, broad retail participation, and widespread euphoria remain largely absent, suggesting the expansion phase has not fully played out.

Shiba Inu Cycle Signals Remain Active

Lucie referenced public comments from Changpeng Zhao, Brian Armstrong, Vitalik Buterin, and Michael Saylor, noting that their views point to a market structure with room for continuation rather than exhaustion.

Shiba price action mirrors this broader pattern. After climbing to $0.00001017 on Jan. 5, SHIB retreated to $0.00000743 by Jan. 19 following several days of decline. While CoinGecko data shows SHIB is down 61.8% yearly, Lucie noted that prolonged consolidation without widespread participation often signals delayed expansion, not reduced potential.

She added that when price acceleration fails to appear early, it often means the cycle stretches over a longer period. In her assessment, this behavior aligns SHIB with the broader crypto market, rather than isolating it as an underperformer.

Market Structure And Developer Outlook

Beyond price metrics, the Shiba Inu team points to ongoing ecosystem development as a key stabilizing factor. Work continues on infrastructure initiatives such as Shibarium adoption and ecosystem integrations, aimed at supporting long-term utility and network resilience.

Lucie described the current phase as one focused on positioning rather than emotion. She argued that maintaining alignment during uncertainty tends to favor projects and users when conditions improve, adding that disciplined participation matters more than reacting to short-term price movements.

Broader market attention remains on upcoming U.S. inflation data tied to the Federal Reserve’s PCE index, which often influences risk asset sentiment.