What is PEPE: The Internet Meme That Turned into a Cryptocurrency Phenomenon

The article explores the phenomenon of PEPE, a meme coin launched in 2023, highlighting its growth as one of the prominent tokens within the cryptocurrency space by 2025. It delves into its origin, development milestones, operational mechanisms on the Ethereum blockchain, and market performance with an active community presence. Key challenges such as volatility and regulatory scrutiny are addressed, alongside its role in meme culture and strategic collaborations. Ideal for both crypto enthusiasts and meme culture adepts, the piece provides insights into PEPE's dynamics and participation avenues, with purchasing guidance via Gate.

Pepe's Positioning and Significance

In 2023, anonymous creators launched Pepe (PEPE) as a meme coin, aiming to capture the attention and imagination of the cryptocurrency community.

As a popular meme token, Pepe plays a unique role in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, particularly in the realm of community-driven projects and social tokens.

As of 2025, Pepe has become one of the most well-known meme coins in the crypto space, with a significant market cap and a large holder base. This report will analyze its market performance and future potential.

Origin and Development History

Birth Background

Pepe was created by anonymous developers in 2023, aiming to capitalize on the popularity of meme coins and the Pepe the Frog internet meme.

It was born during the height of the meme coin craze, with the goal of creating a community-driven token with viral appeal.

Pepe's launch brought new possibilities for cryptocurrency enthusiasts and meme culture fans.

Important Milestones

  • 2023: Pepe token launched on the Ethereum blockchain.
  • 2023: Rapid price surge and widespread adoption among crypto traders.
  • 2024: Reached its all-time high price of $0.00002835 on December 9.
  • 2025: Continued to maintain a significant market presence despite price fluctuations.

With support from its community, Pepe continues to be a notable player in the meme coin sector.

How Does Pepe Work?

No Central Control

Pepe operates on the Ethereum blockchain, a decentralized network of computers (nodes) worldwide, free from control by banks or governments.

These nodes collaborate to validate transactions, ensuring system transparency and attack resistance, giving users greater autonomy and enhancing network resilience.

Blockchain Core

Pepe's blockchain is Ethereum - a public, immutable digital ledger that records every transaction.

Transactions are grouped into blocks and linked through cryptographic hashes, forming a secure chain.

Anyone can view the records, establishing trust without intermediaries.

Ensuring Fairness

Pepe uses Ethereum's Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism to validate transactions and prevent fraudulent activities like double-spending.

Validators maintain network security by staking ETH and validating transactions, receiving rewards in ETH.

Its innovative aspects include improved energy efficiency and higher transaction throughput compared to older consensus mechanisms.

Secure Transactions

Pepe uses public-private key encryption technology to protect transactions:

  • Private keys (like secret passwords) are used to sign transactions
  • Public keys (like account numbers) are used to verify ownership

This mechanism ensures fund security, while transactions remain pseudonymous.

Additional security features include the ability to use hardware wallets and multi-signature wallets for enhanced protection.

PEPE's Market Performance

Circulation Overview

As of September 30, 2025, PEPE's circulating supply is 420,690,000,000,000 tokens, which is equal to its total supply of 420,690,000,000,000.

Price Fluctuations

PEPE reached its all-time high of $0.00002835 on December 9, 2024.
Its lowest price was $0.00000002986, occurring on April 19, 2023.
These fluctuations reflect market sentiment, adoption trends, and external factors.

Click to view the current market price of PEPE

price-image

On-Chain Metrics

  • Daily Transaction Volume: $5,908,150.21 (indicating network activity)
  • Active Addresses: 487,227 (reflecting user engagement)

PEPE Ecosystem Applications and Partnerships

Core Use Cases

PEPE's ecosystem supports various applications:

  • Meme Culture: As a meme coin, PEPE primarily serves as a cultural symbol within the cryptocurrency community.
  • Social Engagement: PEPE fosters community interaction and engagement through its meme-based identity.

Strategic Collaborations

PEPE's partnerships and collaborations are primarily community-driven, aligning with its nature as a meme coin.

Controversies and Challenges

PEPE faces the following challenges:

  • Market Volatility: As a meme coin, PEPE is subject to extreme price fluctuations.
  • Regulatory Concerns: Potential regulatory scrutiny of meme coins and their market impact.
  • Competitive Pressure: The proliferation of other meme coins and tokens in the cryptocurrency space.

These issues have sparked discussions within the community and market, driving ongoing interest in PEPE.

PEPE Community and Social Media Atmosphere

Fan Enthusiasm

PEPE's community is vibrant, with 487,227 holders as of September 30, 2025. On X platform, posts and hashtags related to PEPE often trend, particularly during significant price movements. Factors such as price surges or community events ignite enthusiasm among PEPE supporters.

Social Media Sentiment

Sentiment on X is polarized:

  • Supporters praise PEPE's cultural significance and potential for quick gains.
  • Critics focus on its lack of fundamental value and high volatility.

Recent trends show fluctuating sentiment correlating with market movements.

Hot Topics

X users actively discuss PEPE's price movements, meme culture relevance, and its role in the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem.

More Information Sources for PEPE

  • Official Website: Visit PEPE's official website for updates and community information.
  • X Updates: On X platform, PEPE uses @pepecoineth, with posts covering community events and market updates.

PEPE Future Roadmap

As a meme coin, PEPE doesn't typically have a formal technical roadmap. Its future is largely driven by community engagement and market dynamics.

How to Participate in PEPE?

  1. Purchase Channels: Buy PEPE on Gate.com
  2. Storage Solutions: Use secure cryptocurrency wallets compatible with ERC-20 tokens
  3. Community Engagement: Participate in PEPE-related discussions on social media platforms
  4. Market Awareness: Stay informed about market trends and community sentiment

Summary

PEPE, as a meme coin, represents a unique phenomenon in the cryptocurrency world, offering a blend of internet culture and digital assets. Its active community and market presence have made it a notable player in the meme coin sector. While facing challenges such as high volatility and regulatory uncertainties, PEPE's cultural impact and community-driven nature continue to attract attention. Whether you're a newcomer or an experienced crypto enthusiast, PEPE offers an intriguing glimpse into the intersection of internet culture and cryptocurrency markets.

* The information is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice or any other recommendation of any sort offered or endorsed by Gate.
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