PEPE is a memecoin that has stormed the cryptocurrency world since its launch in April 2023. Inspired by the famous Pepe the Frog meme, it has seen explosive growth, reaching a market capitalization of several billion dollars. Learn what PEPE really is, its utility, and how to buy it in 2025!

What is PEPE ? PEPE is a memecoin cryptocurrency launched in April 2023, based on the famous internet meme Pepe the Frog. Unlike traditional cryptocurrencies that emphasize utility and practical use cases, this token falls into the memecoin category, whose value primarily rests on cultural popularity and community sentiment.

As an ERC-20 token operating on the Ethereum blockchain, PEPE benefits from the security and infrastructure of this established platform. With a market capitalization of approximately $3 billion as of April 2025, it has established itself as one of the most significant memecoins in the market, regularly ranking among the top 40 cryptocurrencies by valuation. PEPE is characterized by its deflationary mechanism that involves burning a small portion of tokens during each transaction, gradually reducing the total supply and potentially creating upward pressure on the price in the long term.

The History of PEPE The token’s history officially begins on April 14, 2023, when it was created on the Ethereum blockchain. Its launch occurred in a particular context where memecoins were experiencing renewed interest, especially after the success of Dogecoin (DOGE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB). PEPE’s initial growth was spectacular : in just five days after its launch, its market capitalization exceeded $100 million.

This meteoric rise can be attributed to the crypto community’s enthusiasm for memecoins and the immediate recognition of the Pepe the Frog character, already popular on the internet for more than a decade. During 2023, PEPE experienced several cycles of rises and falls characteristic of memecoins, with extreme price variations that could reach several hundred percentage points in just a few days. Despite this volatility, the token gradually gained legitimacy with listings on major exchange platforms like Binance and Coinbase.

The year 2024 marked a consolidation phase for PEPE, with a more stable user base and an established presence in the crypto ecosystem. In 2025, the token continues to attract attention from investors looking for speculative opportunities in the memecoin sector. Who Created the PEPE Memecoin ?

Although the Pepe the Frog meme was originally created by artist Matt Furie in 2005 for his comic book “Boy’s Club,” the PEPE token has no official connection to him. According to several sources, the creator of the PEPE memecoin is Zachary Testa, a landscape photographer who reportedly launched the project in April 2023. Unlike many crypto projects, the team behind PEPE initially maintained a certain anonymity, a common practice in the memecoin universe.

This approach aligns with the decentralized philosophy that often characterizes these projects, where the community plays a more important role than the founders. The cryptocurrency launch occurred without a presale or developer allocation, meaning the creators had to purchase their tokens on the market like any other investor. This approach was perceived positively by the community, who saw it as a sign of fairness in the initial distribution.

What is the Purpose of PEPE Crypto ? Unlike traditional cryptocurrencies that aim to solve specific problems or offer concrete services, PEPE has limited utility in terms of technical functionalities. Its primary function is to be a speculative asset in the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

Speculation and Investment The main use of this crypto lies in its potential for financial gain for investors. Its high volatility attracts traders looking for quick profits, while some long-term investors bet on increasing adoption of memecoins in the future. Deflationary Mechanism PEPE incorporates a token burning system during transactions, which progressively reduces the total supply.

This deflationary mechanism aims to create artificial scarcity that could theoretically support the price in the long term, although this remains highly speculative. Community Belonging Owning PEPE also represents a form of community membership sharing a common interest in meme culture and cryptocurrencies. This social dimension should not be underestimated, as it constitutes a significant part of the value proposition of memecoins.

How Does the PEPE Crypto Work ? PEPE is an ERC-20 token that operates exclusively on the Ethereum blockchain, the second-largest cryptocurrency platform in the world after Bitcoin. This infrastructure choice has important implications for the token’s operation and future.

Integration with the Ethereum ecosystem offers several significant advantages to PEPE : Robust security : Ethereum benefits from a vast network of validators that secure the blockchain : Ethereum benefits from a vast network of validators that secure the Wide adoption : Immediate compatibility with thousands of wallets and decentralized applications : Immediate compatibility with thousands of wallets and decentralized applications Liquidity : Easy access to decentralized exchanges ( DEXs ) like Uniswap and SushiSwap : Easy access to ( ) like and Interoperability : Possibility of interaction with other Ethereum-based protocols and services Technically, this token is a smart contract deployed on Ethereum, which means that all transactions are recorded on this blockchain. The smart contract defines the fundamental rules of the token, including : The total supply set at 420.69 trillion tokens set at 420.69 trillion tokens The transfer mechanism between wallets between wallets The burning system that progressively reduces the circulating supply Each transaction requires gas fees paid in ETH, the native cryptocurrency of Ethereum. These fees vary depending on network congestion.

Advantages and Disadvantages of PEPE Crypto First, let’s look at the advantages of PEPE crypto. Advantages High return potential : PEPE has demonstrated its ability to generate spectacular returns over short periods, with increases that can reach several hundred percentage points in just a few days. : PEPE has demonstrated its ability to generate spectacular returns over short periods, with increases that can reach several hundred percentage points in just a few days.

Strong community : The token benefits from a base of passionate and active supporters on social media, helping to maintain interest and visibility for the project. : The token benefits from a base of passionate and active supporters on social media, helping to maintain interest and visibility for the project. Deflationary mechanism : The automatic burning of a portion of tokens during transactions progressively reduces the total supply, potentially creating upward pressure on the price in the long term.

: The of a portion of tokens during transactions progressively reduces the total supply, potentially creating upward pressure on the price in the long term. Significant liquidity : PEPE is listed on most major exchange platforms, facilitating buying, selling, and trading the token with significant daily volumes. Disadvantages Now let’s look at the disadvantages of the PEPE token.

Extreme volatility : Price fluctuations can be brutal and unpredictable, with drops as spectacular as rises, exposing investors to risks of significant losses. : can be brutal and unpredictable, with drops as spectacular as rises, exposing investors to risks of significant losses. Limited practical utility : Unlike cryptocurrencies focused on technological solutions , PEPE offers few concrete functionalities beyond its speculative value.

: Unlike cryptocurrencies focused on , PEPE offers beyond its speculative value. Regulatory risks : The uncertain regulatory environment around memecoins could negatively affect PEPE if restrictions were imposed in certain jurisdictions. : The around memecoins could negatively affect PEPE if restrictions were imposed in certain jurisdictions.

Dependence on market sentiment : The value of PEPE is strongly correlated with general crypto market trends and enthusiasm for memecoins, making its price vulnerable to changes in investor mood. Price and Predictions for PEPE Memecoin Let’s look at the current price and predictions for the number one frog memecoin. Price History Since its launch in April 2023, PEPE has experienced a volatile price trajectory typical of memecoins: April 2023 : Launch at a price close to $0.000000001, followed by a rapid rise : Launch at a price close to $0.000000001, followed by a rapid rise May 2023 : First major peak reaching approximately $0.00000431 : First major peak reaching approximately $0.00000431 2023-2024 : Several cycles of rises and falls with a general upward trend : Several cycles of rises and falls with a general upward trend Early 2025 : Stabilization in a range between $0.000007 and $0.000009 This evolution represents an appreciation of several thousand percentage points since launch, despite significant corrections between peaks.

Recent Performance During the first months of 2025, PEPE has shown signs of consolidation after a period of high volatility in late 2024 : January 2025 : Fluctuations between $0.000011 and $0.000013 : Fluctuations between $0.000011 and $0.000013 February 2025 : Slight correction to approximately $0.000008 : Slight correction to approximately $0.000008 March-April 2025 : Gradual rebound toward $0.000007 to $0.000008 The current market capitalization of approximately $3 billion places PEPE among the top 40 cryptocurrencies in terms of valuation. Predictions for 2025-2030 Analysts offer various projections for PEPE’s future : End of 2025 : Estimates between $0.00001 and $0.00003 according to CoinCodex : Estimates between $0.00001 and $0.00003 according to CoinCodex 2026-2027 : Range of $0.00002 to $0.00005 in a moderate scenario : Range of $0.00002 to $0.00005 in a moderate scenario 2030 : Predictions varying from $0.00005 (conservative) to $0.0001 (optimistic) These projections should be taken with a grain of salt. They are certainly too optimistic and depend on many unpredictable factors, including the evolution of the crypto market as a whole and continued interest in memecoins.

Important Moments in PEPE’s History Here is a list of all the important moments since PEPE’s creation. April 14, 2023 : Creation of the PEPE token on the Ethereum blockchain : Creation of the PEPE token on the April 19, 2023 : Market capitalization exceeds $100 million, just 5 days after launch : Market capitalization exceeds $100 million, just 5 days after launch May 2023 : First major price peak, multiplying the initial value by more than 4000 : First major price peak, multiplying the initial value by more than 4000 September 2023 : Listing on Binance, boosting liquidity and adoption : Listing on Binance, boosting liquidity and adoption October 2023 : Addition to Coinbase, reinforcing the token’s legitimacy : Addition to Coinbase, reinforcing the token’s legitimacy January 2024 : Creation of a rewards program for active holders : Creation of a rewards program for active holders August 2024 : Integration with several popular NFT platforms : Integration with several popular NFT platforms December 2024 : Reaching the milestone of 500,000 unique holders : Reaching the milestone of 500,000 unique holders February 2025 : Certification by the CFTC in the United States, clarifying its regulatory status How and Where to Buy PEPE ? PEPE is available on numerous exchange platforms, offering different options according to your preferences: Major centralized exchanges : Bitget, Binance, Bybit : Bitget, Binance, Bybit Decentralized exchanges : Uniswap, SushiSwap These platforms vary in terms of fees, liquidity, and accepted payment methods.

Our preference goes to Bitget, which we consider the best crypto platform in 2025. Mini-Tutorial for Buying PEPE on Bitget Here’s how to buy PEPE on Bitget in a few simple steps: Create an account on Bitget and complete KYC verification Deposit funds via bank transfer or by transferring cryptocurrencies (USDT recommended) Access the Trading section and search for the PEPE/USDT pair Click on “Buy” and select “Market Order” for an immediate purchase Enter the amount of PEPE you want to buy or the amount of USDT to spend Confirm the transaction and check your Bitget wallet If you want to withdraw your PEPE to your personal wallet, use the “Withdraw” function, enter your Ethereum address, and confirm the transaction. Precautions to Take When buying PEPE, several precautions are essential : Verify the authenticity of the token of the token Beware of imitations and scams with similar names and scams with similar names Enable two-factor authentication on your exchange accounts on your exchange accounts Consider transaction fees which can be significant on Ethereum How to Store Your PEPE ?

There are different ways to store your PEPE. Compatible Wallets As an ERC-20 token on Ethereum, PEPE can be stored in any wallet compatible with this standard. The main options include : Hot wallets : MetaMask : Popular browser extension, ideal for interacting with DApps : Popular browser extension, ideal for interacting with DApps Trust Wallet : Versatile mobile application supporting many cryptocurrencies : Versatile mobile application supporting many cryptocurrencies Coinbase Wallet : User-friendly solution linked to the Coinbase exchange : User-friendly solution linked to the Coinbase exchange Zengo : Wallet without recovery phrase using biometrics Cold wallets : Ledger : Physical devices like the Nano S Plus or Nano X : Physical devices like the Nano S Plus or Nano X Trezor: Alternatives like the Model T or Model One Our preference goes to cold wallets and particularly to Ledger.

These hardware wallets offer superior security for long-term storage of significant amounts. Security Considerations The security of your PEPE tokens depends on several best practices : Protection of the recovery phrase : Store it offline, ideally on paper or metal : Store it offline, ideally on paper or metal Regular updates of wallet software to benefit from the latest protections of wallet software to benefit from the latest protections Verification of addresses before each transaction to avoid irreversible errors before each transaction to avoid irreversible errors Use of different wallets for daily trading and long-term storage How to Get PEPE for Free ? Getting PEPE for free is more difficult than for some other cryptocurrencies, but a few options exist: Airdrops and Reward Programs Community airdrops : Occasionally, projects related to the PEPE ecosystem organize free distributions to promote their services : Occasionally, projects related to the PEPE ecosystem organize free distributions to promote their services Loyalty programs : Some exchange platforms offer rewards in PEPE for active use of their services : Some exchange platforms offer rewards in PEPE for active use of their services Promotional events : Watch for temporary marketing campaigns that may include PEPE distributions These opportunities are generally announced on official communication channels like Twitter, Discord, or Telegram.

Microtask Platforms and Faucets Crypto faucets : Websites that distribute small amounts of cryptocurrencies in exchange for solving captchas or watching advertisements : Websites that distribute small amounts of cryptocurrencies in exchange for solving captchas or watching advertisements Reward applications : Services that compensate users for various activities such as surveys or application testing : Services that compensate users for various activities such as surveys or application testing Learn & Earn programs : Educational platforms that reward learning about cryptocurrencies These methods generally provide only very small amounts of PEPE, but can constitute a starting point without initial investment. Is PEPE Legal ? The legality of PEPE, like that of many memecoins, varies considerably depending on the country : United States : PEPE is generally considered a legal digital asset.

In February 2025, the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) certified futures contracts on PEPE, partially clarifying its regulatory status. : PEPE is generally considered a legal digital asset. In February 2025, the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) certified futures contracts on PEPE, partially clarifying its regulatory status.

European Union : Under the MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulation, PEPE is classified as a legal “crypto-asset,” but subject to transparency and consumer protection requirements. : Under the MiCA regulation, PEPE is classified as a legal “crypto-asset,” but subject to transparency and consumer protection requirements. United Kingdom : Memecoins like PEPE are legal to buy and sell, although the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued warnings about the associated risks.

: Memecoins like PEPE are legal to buy and sell, although the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued warnings about the associated risks. Asia : The situation varies considerably : Singapore : Legal trading but with restrictions for platforms Japan : Legal on registered exchanges China : Significant restrictions on all cryptocurrencies India : Ambiguous status with taxation of gains : The situation varies considerably : Tax Considerations In most jurisdictions, transactions involving PEPE are subject to tax obligations : Capital gains tax : Profits made from selling PEPE are generally taxable : Profits made from selling PEPE are generally taxable Mandatory reporting : Many countries require declaration of cryptocurrency holdings : Many countries require declaration of cryptocurrency holdings Transaction tracking : The responsibility to document transaction history often falls on the user Who Holds the Most PEPE ? The distribution of PEPE tokens presents some notable characteristics : No initial allocation for developers or private investors, unlike many crypto projects for developers or private investors, unlike many crypto projects Relatively concentrated distribution despite the “fair” approach to the launch despite the “fair” approach to the launch Approximately 40% of tokens are reportedly held by the 100 largest addresses of tokens are reportedly held by the 100 largest addresses More than 500,000 unique holders according to on-chain data from April 2025 This relative concentration is typical of memecoins and may present risks of market manipulation.

Major “Whales” and Holders Although the precise identity of the largest holders generally remains anonymous due to the nature of the blockchain, several categories stand out : Early adopters : Investors who bought PEPE shortly after its launch : Investors who bought PEPE shortly after its launch Centralized exchanges : Platforms holding significant reserves to facilitate trading : Platforms holding significant reserves to facilitate trading Crypto investment funds : Some specialized funds have taken positions in PEPE : Some specialized funds have taken positions in PEPE Memecoin collectors : Investors specialized in this asset category PEPE perfectly represents the memecoin phenomenon that has revolutionized the crypto ecosystem in recent years, combining internet culture, financial speculation, and community engagement. Its $3 billion market capitalization and position among the top 40 cryptocurrencies testify to undeniable success despite the absence of concrete technical utility. The extreme volatility and speculative nature of PEPE make it a high-risk investment that requires a cautious approach.

While potential returns can be spectacular in the short term, dependence on market sentiment and the absence of practical use cases raise legitimate questions about its long-term viability compared to more utilitarian blockchain projects. For investors interested in PEPE, we recommend a limited allocation as part of a diversified portfolio, a staggered entry strategy to average prices, and constant vigilance regarding developments in the memecoin market, which remains unpredictable and highly cyclical.