PEPE is an ERC-20 meme coin that was launched on April 17, 2023, inspired by Pepe the Frog, a popular internet meme character.
The project has no official team or roadmap, but its value is derived from its popularity in the cryptocurrency market.
In December 2024, PEPE reached an all-time high of $0.000028, giving it an $11 billion market capitalization.
This peak was driven by three simultaneous catalysts: Bitcoin surpassing $100,000 for the first time in November 2024, Trump's election victory creating a crypto-friendly regulatory narrative, and Robinhood listing PEPE on November 13, 2024.
The combination of macro bull market, political tailwind, and sudden access through the largest US retail brokerage drove PEPE from approximately $0.000011 to $0.000028 in three weeks.