What is PEPE, crypto’s latest hot memecoin?

The internet’s most famous frog, Pepe, is making waves in the crypto space since a memecoin created in its honor, PEPE, soared into the top 100 cryptocurrencies by market cap.

Just weeks after launch, the coin was rubbing shoulders with top tokens Dogecoin (DOGE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB) with a market cap well north of $400 million. But what is the PEPE project all about?

A brief history of Pepe the Frog

PEPE the coin spawned as a tribute to the Pepe the Frog character that first appeared in 2005. Pepe was the creation of American cartoonist Matt Furie for his comic ‘Boy’s Club’, and soon after grew in prominence across the dominant social networks of the time in meme form. Pepe has even been used as a symbol by online political movements.

About PEPE the coin

The PEPE coin only hit the market on April 15, 2023, despite Pepe’s almost two decades of popularity and the previous meteoric rise of selected memecoins. However, the coin has no association with the character’s creator Matt Furie. As the coin’s website states “this token is simply paying homage to a meme we all love and recognize.”

In the weeks after launch, the coin had surged by more than 2,000 percent to a market cap above $500 million before settling lower.

The tokenomics

PEPE is an ERC-20 token on the Ethereum blockchain with a circulating supply of 420.69 trillion. The coin follows a redistribution system to reward and incentivize long term holders, which is intended to bring some stability to the project.

On launch, 93.1% of the tokens in supply were sent to the liquidity pool, with the remaining 6.9% of coins held in a multi-signature wallet to be used for future centralized exchange listings, bridges, and liquidity pool. Meanwhile, the LP tokens were burnt, and the deployer contract was renounced.

The future of the PEPE project

PEPE’s creators have outlined an informal three-part roadmap for the coin’s future, but stress on the website that $PEPE is "a meme coin with no intrinsic value or expectation of financial return. There is no formal team or roadmap. the coin is completely useless and for entertainment purposes only.” Here's what the tentative roadmap looks like:

  • Phase one: Focus on the coin's launch, major listings, and getting PEPE trending on X.

  • Phase two: Secure community partnerships and launch a digital newsletter, form a token gated Discord group called PEPE’s Palace for holders, and aim for more than 10,000 holders across centralized exchanges.

  • Phase 3: Launch of a PEPE academy, tools, merchandise, and, if successful, reach more than 100,000 holders across tier one exchanges.

How can I buy PEPE?

Pepe’s creators have made clear that the coin holds no intrinsic value and is intended for entertainment purposes. Its early surge in price can be attributed to the enduring popularity of the Pepe the Frog meme, but as is typical of memecoins, high volatility should be expected.

Aviso legal
Este conteúdo é fornecido apenas para fins informativos e pode abranger produtos que não estão disponíveis na sua região. Não se destina a fornecer (i) aconselhamento ou recomendações de investimento; (ii) uma oferta ou solicitação para comprar, vender ou deter ativos de cripto/digitais, ou (iii) aconselhamento financeiro, contabilístico, jurídico ou fiscal. A detenção de ativos de cripto/digitais, incluindo criptomoedas estáveis e NFT, envolve um alto grau de risco e pode flutuar muito. Deve ponderar cuidadosamente se o trading ou a detenção de ativos de cripto/digitais são adequados para si, tendo em conta a sua situação financeira. Consulte o seu profissional jurídico/fiscal/de investimentos para tirar dúvidas sobre as suas circunstâncias específicas. As informações (incluindo dados de mercado e informações estatísticas, caso existam) apresentadas nesta publicação destinam-se apenas para fins de informação geral. Alguns conteúdos podem ser gerados ou ajudados por ferramentas de inteligência artificial (IA). Embora tenham sido tomadas todas as precauções razoáveis na preparação destes dados e gráficos, a OKX não assume qualquer responsabilidade por erros ou omissões aqui expressos. A OKX Web3 Wallet e seus serviços auxiliares não são fornecidos pela OKX Exchange e estão sujeitos aos Termos de Serviço do Ecossistema Web3 da OKX.

Artigos relacionados

Ver mais
hard wallet
Security
Wallets
Self-custody

A complete guide to 2024's best hardware wallets

Have you ever considered the most secure method to store your cryptocurrency? A hardware wallet provides an essential safeguard solution for your cryptocurrency assets by keeping them offline. Unlike hot wallets, which can be susceptible to cyber-attacks, hardware wallets securely contain the private keys you need to gain access to your digital assets.
29/07/2025
Iniciantes
30
NFTs generic
Blockchain
Ethereum
Protocols

All about Ethscriptions: the Ethereum protocol rivaling Bitcoin ordinals

Bitcoin ordinals took the Web3 world by storm following their introduction in January 2023. The adoption of ordinals has been massive, with millions of inscriptions being created in the few months since launch.
23/07/2025
2
UPI and Web3 wallets India
Wallets

UPI and Web3 wallets: India's digital payment platform

Does India's adoption of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) signify the start of a new digital payment revolution? The potential is there. Web3 decentralized protocols and technologies offer individuals more control over their data, identities, and transactions, which could be the next step in the evolution of the internet. With India's evolving digital payment infrastructure, the country is well-positioned to take advantage of the possibilities of decentralization.
23/07/2025
1
OKX Bot Trading
Trading guide
Blockchain
Trading basics

A beginner’s guide to IPOs: how cryptocurrency firms can go public

An initial public offering (IPO) is the process of a private company offering its shares to the public for the first time, allowing anyone to buy a stake in the company. This usually occurs when a company is looking to raise capital to fund its growth and expansion plans. IPOs have become increasingly popular among cryptocurrency firms in recent years, as they seek to gain mainstream recognition and credibility. This beginner’s guide will explore the IPO process and provide insights into how cryptocurrency firms can go public.
15/07/2025
Iniciantes
7
Friend.tech Learn banner
Ethereum

Decoding Friend.tech: a guide to the latest big thing in crypto SocialFi

In the 21st century, social media underwent a revolution. Platforms like Friendster, MySpace, and later Meta reshaped how we connected and shared online. As the years went by, the trend shifted towards mobile-centric platforms like Instagram, X, Snapchat, and TikTok, further expanding the boundaries of online interaction.
15/07/2025
Iniciantes
trade-academy-beginner-4
Mining
Bitcoin
Blockchain

The 9 best ASIC miners for mining cryptocurrency in 2024

Cryptocurrency mining is an essential process that secures and verifies transactions within a blockchain network. Miners use computational power to solve complex mathematical problems, validate transa
15/07/2025
5
Ver mais