# Pepe (PEPE)

> A frog-themed Ethereum token reached a reported $1.8 billion market value.

- Owner: Anonymous PEPE team / @pepecoineth
- Kind: App & software
- Sector: Finance
- Seed date: 2023-04-14
- Peak date: 2023-05-05
- Spread Score: 16 (Niche), v1.2
- Mechanics: Pairing, Platform jump, Press loop, Controversy, Dupe economy

## Summary

PEPE launched in April 2023 and spread through Crypto Twitter, press and exchange listings. Its reported market value reached $1.8 billion by May 5. Coinbase faced a community backlash, and later research alleged bot amplification.

## Timeline

- 2023-04-14 — @pepecoineth (X) — Pepe posted its launch-day message, “Today. $PEPE #MMGA”, as the Ethereum token launched.
- 2023-04-15 — @pepecoineth (X) — Pepe positioned the token against dog-themed coins and said it would “make memecoins great again”.
- 2023-04-18 — CoinDesk (Press) — CoinDesk reported Crypto Twitter traders moving to PEPE and 10,000 holding addresses.

The full timeline, metrics and sources are on the case page, or via the Pro API (https://howitspread.com/developers).

Canonical URL: https://howitspread.com/cases/pepe-token

Cite as: How It Spread (2026). “Pepe (PEPE).” Case HIS-00804. Spread Score v1.2: 16/100. Updated 2026-10-15. https://howitspread.com/id/HIS-00804