PepeCoin is a meme coin inspired by the character Pepe the Frog. Initially launched on March 5, 2016, it was originally distributed through mining on its own Proof-of-Work Layer 1 blockchain, PepeCoin was later listed on exchanges like Bittrex in 2017 under the name "Memetic." ^[1]

Overview

PepeCoin is a deflationary meme token inspired by the Pepe the Frog meme, making it one of the earliest memecoins. Initially launched as a Proof-of-Work blockchain, it migrated to Ethereum in 2023 as an ERC-20 token, benefiting from Ethereum's Proof-of-Stake security and smart contract capabilities. The project focuses on community-driven growth, market visibility, and social media engagement.

PepeCoin incorporates a redistribution mechanism to encourage long-term holding, aiming to promote token stability and enhance its potential for sustained success. Its development is guided by a team experienced in cryptocurrency and internet culture. ^{[1] [2]}

While the founding team remains anonymous, they effectively harnessed social media platforms such as Telegram and X to drive adoption and foster a broad community of supporters. PepeCoin also incorporates features designed to encourage long-term holding, such as redistribution mechanisms aimed at promoting stability and sustainable growth within the ecosystem. ^[2]

Controversy

PepeCoin faced significant challenges in its early development, particularly during the U.S. presidential elections of 2016. Amid widespread use of memes in political campaigns, the Pepe the Frog character became controversially associated with divisive symbolism and was labeled a "hate symbol" by some groups.

This controversy impacted PepeCoin's adoption, as central exchanges at the time declined to list it due to the character's perceived associations. To navigate these challenges, the project temporarily rebranded as "Memetic" to secure exchange listings while maintaining its identity as PepeCoin on platforms like CoinMarketCap, Twitter, and GitHub.

The team remained committed to dissociating Pepe from the controversy, ultimately reclaiming the PepeCoin name in 2023 after the character's reputation saw renewed acceptance. ^[3]

Ecosystem

Pepe Messenger

Pepe Messenger, integrated into the Pepe OS platform, is a decentralized application designed to foster collaboration and community engagement. It supports direct messaging, group chats, and chat rooms tailored for exclusive projects and communities. Users can showcase NFT Emotes, NFT Art, Metaverse assets, ENS names, and creations from the Pepe Paint app, creating an interactive and creative environment.

Pepe Paint

Pepe Paint enhances user creativity by allowing on-the-spot crafting and minting of NFTs. This application simplifies the NFT creation process, enabling users to share their artwork seamlessly without relying on external minting services.

Kek.bot

Kek.Bot is an advanced decentralized trading terminal aimed at optimizing the trading experience. It offers features such as portfolio management, MEV blocking, limit orders, detailed profit/loss reports, token discovery tools, mirror trading, and sniper bot functionality. Additionally, Kek.Bot includes sophisticated charting tools and trader chat capabilities, broadening the possibilities for seamless and informed trading. ^[3]

Tokenomics

PepeCoin Token ($PEPECOIN)

Supply and Distribution

PepeCoin has a total supply of 420,690 trillion tokens, designed to promote scarcity despite its large quantity. The token follows a "No Taxes" policy, emphasizing simplicity in its value proposition.

Regarding distribution, 93.1% of the tokens were allocated to a liquidity pool, with the contract renounced and the liquidity pool tokens burned. The remaining 6.9% is held in a multi-signature wallet, intended for centralized exchange bridges, listings, and additional liquidity pools. This wallet is publicly trackable through the ENS name “pepecexwallet.eth.”

Utility

Currently, PepeCoin is primarily intended for entertainment and community engagement, without specific utility functions. However, future developments may include potential use as a currency for digital goods and services. ^[4]