“The momentum vanished faster than anyone expected,” a trader commented after Shiba Inu’s recent surge faltered. SHIB had just posted a sharp 40% price jump fueled by a twelvefold spike in trading volume, suggesting one of the clearest recovery attempts so far this year. Instead, the rally stalled near a critical resistance point, wiping out hopes for a mini-golden cross that many investors were eyeing as a sign of a lasting uptrend.

The initial breakout seemed promising. SHIB blasted through short-term moving averages with one of the biggest daily volume increases observed in 2026, which usually points to fresh capital entering the market rather than just traders covering shorts. Many took this as a signal that the long bearish trend might finally be weakening. Yet the strength was short-lived. Sellers stepped in aggressively as the price neared the 100-day EMA around $0.00000503, pushing SHIB back down below this key level.

This failure to hold above the moving average not only erased much of the gains but also nullified the expected crossover between the 20-day and 50-day exponential moving averages. This crossover often acts as a key early indicator for bullish momentum, so its cancellation dampened short-term sentiment considerably. SHIB’s inability to sustain the breakout shows the challenges the token faces despite surges in trading activity.

The episode reflects a wider pattern in crypto markets where volume spikes can mislead investors about trend reversals. Similar volatility was seen recently when stablecoins shrank by $7.7 billion amid all-time high trading volumes in June, showing how volume alone doesn’t guarantee price strength. For now, SHIB’s stalled recovery leaves traders cautious about the next move.

This article is for informational purposes and not investment advice.