I’ve been thinking again about the history of Pepe the Frog — something that most people just see as a simple internet emoji. But in reality, the story behind it is much deeper and more complex.

Back in 2005, an American artist named Matt Furie drew a frog in his comic Boy's Club. At that time, no one knew that this image would become one of the most iconic cultural symbols on the internet. Pepe appeared in a pretty ordinary scene — the frog pulling down its pants and saying "Feels good, man." That phrase, though simple, became the first meme and started spreading.

But the real turning point happened in 2008 when Pepe the Frog made its way onto 4chan. Here, the community of users began to create endlessly — modifying expressions, changing phrases, creating Sad Pepe, Smug Pepe, Feels Bad Man, and countless other variations. Pepe, once a simple character, became a way for people to express their emotions — sadness, loneliness, anger, or even happiness.

Then, during 2015-2016, something changed. Some right-wing political groups in the U.S. started using Pepe in their campaigns, even linking it to support for Donald Trump. That’s when Pepe got caught up in political controversy. The Anti-Defamation League even added some versions of it to their hate symbol list. But interestingly, Matt Furie — the creator of Pepe — publicly opposed this misuse.

But Pepe didn’t stop there. On 4chan, the community began creating "rare" versions of Pepe — unique drawings, even sold as collectible pieces of value. And as the crypto world started to grow, Pepe became an inspiration for NFT projects and tokens. There are Pepe-based tokens, rare Pepe NFTs traded, and the crypto community found a new way to connect with this symbol.

I think that’s fascinating — from a simple comic drawing to a global cultural phenomenon, and then becoming part of the blockchain world. Pepe the Frog proves that internet culture has the power to transform everything. Does anyone in the community want to create their own version of Pepe — maybe a Pepe with blockchain philosophy, or a rare Pepe for your group?