how did pepe coin start

The birth of Pepe Coin in 2016 stemmed from the vibrant online meme community surrounding the anthropomorphic frog character, Pepe.

Oct 16, 2024 at 01:12 am

1. Initial Concept: The idea for Pepe Coin originated in 2016 within the "rare Pepe" meme community online. Users traded and collected digital images of the anthropomorphic frog character, Pepe, which had become popular in internet culture.
2. Tokenization: In October 2016, developer Felix "FY" Yarn developed Pepe Cash, an ERC-20 token on the Ethereum blockchain. Each token represented ownership of a unique Pepe meme image.
3. Decentralized Platform: The Rare Pepe Wallet, a decentralized platform for trading and managing Pepe Cash, was launched in December 2016. It allowed users to display their Pepe meme collection as a status symbol.
4. Growth of Community: The Pepe Coin community grew rapidly, attracting enthusiasts from the cryptocurrency and meme subcultures. The use of rare Pepes as a medium for digital art and humor gained popularity.
5. Investment interest: As the community expanded, investors took notice of the potential value of Pepe Cash. Its scarcity and association with a vibrant online subculture made it an attractive speculative investment.
6. Price Volatility: In December 2017, during the cryptocurrency market boom, the price of Pepe Cash reached an all-time high of around $0.50. However, the market later experienced a downturn, which saw the price of Pepe Cash fluctuate significantly.
7. Legal Challenges: In 2018, the owner of the original Pepe the Frog character filed a lawsuit against the Rare Pepe Wallet team, alleging copyright infringement. The case was eventually settled out of court.
8. Ongoing Development: Despite legal challenges, the Pepe Coin community continued to grow and evolve. New features, such as fractional ownership of Pepe memes and integration with other decentralized applications, were added to the Rare Pepe Wallet.
9. Current Status: As of 2023, Pepe Coin remains a niche cryptocurrency with a small but dedicated community. It continues to be traded on various decentralized exchanges and serves as a collectible and a symbol of internet culture.