Now I have comprehensive information to write the overview. Let me compile this into a professional research report format.

Pepe (PEPE) Cryptocurrency: Comprehensive Overview

Core Definition and Technology

Pepe (PEPE) is an ERC-20 token on the Ethereum blockchain, which is secured by the Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism. PEPE is a deflationary memecoin launched on Ethereum, created as a tribute to the Pepe the Frog internet meme, created by Matt Furie, which gained popularity in the early 2000s. PEPE was launched as an ERC-20 token on the Ethereum blockchain in April 2023.

Blockchain Architecture and Network Security

PEPE operates on the Ethereum blockchain secured by the Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, with decentralized validators staking 32 ETH to process transactions and secure the network. As an ERC-20 token, PEPE leverages Ethereum's established infrastructure and smart contract capabilities, inheriting the security properties of the Ethereum network rather than operating its own independent blockchain.

Project History and Launch Timeline

The PEPE token was created on April 14, 2023, and grew quickly seeing rapid price growth passing a $100 million market cap by April 19, 2023. On April 19, 2023, the token saw more than $90 million in volume on Uniswap V2 alone. In late April to May 2023, the explosive surge of PEPE caused its market cap to reach a high of $1.6 billion at one point, minting millionaires out of early holders and attracting a strong community of like-minded followers.

Founding Team and Key Developers

The founders of PEPE remain anonymous, which is not uncommon in the cryptocurrency world. Although information about the team behind the project is scarce, they have successfully garnered attention using social media platforms such as Twitter to promote their meme coin and foster a community around the memecoin.

However, Pauly, also known as Jeremy Cahen, posted on X (Twitter) stating that Zachary Testa, a landscape photographer is the actual founder of one of the popular meme coins, Pepe coin, on August 25, 2023. He further revealed the identity saying that the accounts @degenharambe and @LordKekLol on X (Twitter) belong to Zachary Testa. Zachary Testa, who was born in 1997, is a marketing graduate from Arizona State University. As a professional photographer, he has a personal website featuring his work.

Tokenomics: Supply and Distribution

Total and Circulating Supply:
The full maximum supply of PEPE was released upon its launch, totaling 420,690,000,000,000 tokens. The circulating supply of Pepe is 420,690,000,000,000 tokens and the total supply is 420,690,000,000,000 tokens.

Distribution Model:
The project allocated 93.1% of its maximum supply of 420.69 trillion tokens to a liquidity pool at launch, reserving the remaining 6.9% in a multi-signature wallet for future use. At the time of launch, the Pepe team deposited 93.10% of the project's token supply into liquidity pools to allow for trading to commence. Once deposited, the Pepe team burned (permanently destroyed) the liquidity provider tokens (LP tokens), ensuring liquidity stays in the respective pools.

Contract Ownership:
Once PEPE was created, the team renounced their ownership of the token contract. This means the team who created it no longer have any control over the cryptocurrency, including the ability to modify its code.

Deflationary and Redistribution Mechanics

Pepe Coin has a deflationary mechanism where each transaction burns a small percentage of tokens, reducing the total supply over time. This can increase the value of the coin and make it more attractive. Additionally, Pepe Coin has a redistribution system where a portion of each transaction is distributed among existing token holders.

PEPE employs a redistribution system that rewards long-term stakers, offering them incentives to remain committed to the project. This approach encourages coin stability by rewarding users for holding the token rather than selling it quickly.

Primary Use Cases and Applications

PEPE appeals to the cryptocurrency community by instituting a no-tax policy and being up-front about its lack of utility, keeping things pure and simple as a memecoin. The creator(s) launched the token on the Ethereum blockchain with no partnerships, token sales, or complicated "tokenomics." Ostensibly, this would allow anyone to buy, collect, or sell PEPE—and only to do those things, without any other functionality. Other than its inherent gimmick as a meme, PEPE has no use case.

PEPE is primarily used as a medium of exchange within its designated ecosystem. It is designed to facilitate transactions and interactions within a community that appreciates the cultural and humorous value of its underlying meme concept.

Trading and Exchange Accessibility

PEPE can be traded on Uniswap (V2), Uniswap (V3), Binance, KuCoin, Huobi, Gate.io, MEXC and more. The token has since become tradable across both centralized and decentralized finance platforms.

Market Position and Valuation

Based on current market data, PEPE maintains a significant market position. The token has achieved widespread adoption across major cryptocurrency exchanges and maintains substantial trading volume, reflecting its prominence within the memecoin sector.

Community and Ecosystem

Pepe Coin's main strength is its community of supporters. It has over 529,000 followers on X as of December 2023, and a broad presence on other platforms such as Telegram, Discord, and Reddit. With a community of over 200,000 holders, PEPE is one of the largest meme coins by wallet holders.

Development Activity and Roadmap

The project laid down several plans for the future such as launching a Pepe Academy and merchandise to expand its ecosystem and maintain a good position on the crypto market. In October 2023, the official Pepe Coin X account shared that a new team of advisors would guide the project forward. The post began with an announcement that 6.9 trillion PEPE tokens worth approximately $6,000,000 had been burned and permanently removed from the project's supply.

Competitive Advantages and Value Proposition

The project aims to capitalize on the popularity of meme coins, like Shiba Inu and Dogecoin, and strives to establish itself as one of the top meme-based cryptocurrencies. Unlike some meme coins which may impose taxes on transactions, PEPE's transactions do not incur additional fees and allow users to transact without any extra costs. This promotes ease of use and accessibility for users engaging in PEPE transactions.

Risk Factors and Challenges

Pepe lacks fundamentals or technical innovation. It's prone to sharp price swings, and it has liquidity and regulatory risks. In August 2023, three ex-team members, acting as rogue developers, stole funds from the Pepe multisig wallet. They misappropriated 16 trillion PEPE tokens, which were valued at $15 million. This unexpected breach caused turmoil within the PEPE community. The tokens were illicitly transferred to several crypto exchanges, including OKX, Binance, Kucoin, and Bybit, before being sold. As a result, the value of the frog-themed PEPE tokens experienced a nearly 20% decline.

Meme Origin and Cultural Context

Pepe the Frog was introduced in 2005 by cartoonist Matt Furie as a character in his comic called Boy's Club. Pepe was depicted as a large-mouthed, green amphibian who played video games and hung out with his friends. Although most may not recognise Furie's original work, those who remember Internet culture from the 2000s and 2010s might have seen Pepe across social media.

The website that provided information about the token explicitly stated that it had no association with original Pepe the Frog creator Matt Furie.

Sources:

1. https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/pepe/
2. https://weareblox.com/en-eu/pepe
3. https://www.octobot.cloud/what-is-pepe
4. https://ndax.io/en/blog/article/what-is-pepe-pepe
5. https://www.blockchain-council.org/cryptocurrency/pepe-coin/
6. https://metamask.io/price/pepe
7. https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/what-is-pepe-crypto-and-review
8. https://koinly.io/blog/what-is-pepe-coin/
9. https://www.bitstamp.net/en-gb/learn/cryptocurrency-guide/what-is-pepe/
10. https://nftevening.com/what-is-pepe-coin/
11. https://learncrypto.com/popular-coins/pepe
12. https://www.altify.app/altify-blog/a-beginners-guide-to-pepe-pepe
13. https://coingape.com/education/zachary-testa-networth/
14. https://blockchain.news/news/breaking-zachary-testa-identified-as-pepe-coin-founder-following-price-crash
15. https://iq.wiki/wiki/pepecoin
16. https://www.bittime.com/en/blog/siapa-pencipta-pepe-pepe-dan-apa-alasannya
17. https://www.mexc.com/price/PEPE/tokenomics
18. https://tokenomist.ai/pepe
19. https://tokeninsight.com/en/coins/pepe/tokenomics
20. https://academy.swissborg.com/en/learn/what-is-pepe
21. https://bitcoinist.com/pepe-coin-faq-crypto-hot-new-meme-coin/
22. https://www.cube.exchange/what-is/pepe
23. https://en.cryptonomist.ch/2024/12/15/can-pepe-coin-compete-lightchain-ais-real-world-use-cases/
24. https://coins.ph/academy/what-is-pepe-everything-you-need-to-know/
25. https://99bitcoins.com/cryptocurrency/pepe-review/
26. https://www.bitget.com/price/pepe/what-is
27. https://www.calibraint.com/blog/pepe-meme-coin-development-guide
28. https://plisio.net/blog/pepe-coin

I'll retrieve the current data on Pepe (PEPE) and search for additional context.

PEPE (PEPE) Price Prediction Analysis

Current Market Context

Current price of Pepe is $0.000006 USD, with a market cap of $2,417,900,000.00 and circulation supply of 413,773,000,000,000 PEPE. Over the last 30 days, Pepe has had 12/30 (40%) green days and 21.93% price volatility.

SHORT-TERM PREDICTIONS (2025-2026)

2025 Forecasts

2025 predictions are tilted heavily towards the bullish side, with the high possibility of a bull run being the key reason, as PEPE price can surge in 2025, the year post-halving year.

2026 Forecasts

PEPE price could undergo a severe market correction in 2026 after the bull run ends, as similar meme coins like DOGE, SHIB and FLOKI are known for undergoing steep market corrections post-bull runs.

MEDIUM-TERM PREDICTIONS (2027-2028)

2027 Forecasts

2028 Forecasts

LONG-TERM PREDICTIONS (2029-2030)

2029 Forecasts

2030 Forecasts

Business analysts predict that PEPE might reach the maximum price of $0.0001039896 by 2030.

EXPERT AND ANALYST FORECASTS

Bullish Perspectives

PEPE has a bullish long term profile and has the potential to turn strongly bullish if it respects $0.0000666 in 2025. At a certain point before 2030, PEPE is expected to reach a maximum price of $0.001, representing a 3x increase from its 2026 peak of $0.00044, underscoring significant growth potential in the coming years.

Bearish Perspectives

Based on multiple technical quantitative indicators, the current forecast for Pepe Coin in 2026 is bearish, which could be an indication that Pepe Coin is a bad buy in 2026. The price of PEPE is expected to decrease by -24.95% in the next month and reach $0.0₅3747 on Feb 26, 2026, and additionally, Pepe Coin's price is forecasted to lose -17.96% in the next six months.

AI AND ALGORITHMIC PREDICTION AGGREGATIONS

CoinCodex's price prediction is calculated using the historical Pepe Coin price dataset, accounting for past volatility and market movements, and the algorithm uses the cyclical nature of Bitcoin halvings, which introduce extra supply-side pressure on BTC every 4 years, a major component of creating a realistic Pepe Coin prediction.

CoinCodex's highest expected price estimate is $0.0001377 by 2050.

A sustained altcoin season could drive PEPE toward $0.000008–$0.000012, per analyst targets.

HISTORICAL PRICE PATTERN ANALYSIS

PEPE was introduced to the open market in May 2023, starting at $0.000001514, experienced a peak at $0.000008117 in July 2023, followed by a dip to $0.0000006105 shortly after, by the close of 2023, the price of PEPE stabilized at $0.000001335, however, 2024 began with a downward trend, with the price dropping to $0.00001237 by mid-February, amidst a surge in the memecoin sector, PEPE reached a new all-time high of $0.00001074 on March 14, 2024, but slightly decreased to $0.0000083 by March 21, 2024, and in May, the price of Pepe surged exponentially, and a new ATH was formed each week.

KEY PRICE CATALYSTS AND POTENTIAL TRIGGERS

Positive Catalysts

Pepe's value skyrocketed by over 222% to reach a new all-time high (ATH) following its listing on the Binance exchange, and a similar significant announcement in 2025 could propel Pepe to surpass its previous ATH.

If Bitcoin and Ethereum enter a strong bull market, PEPE could experience renewed speculative demand, pushing its price toward the higher range of projections, and community-driven engagement and viral trends remain crucial for Pepe's price performance, if PEPE can sustain hype through influencer support and social media trends, it may outperform other memecoins.

Negative Catalysts

Large holders shifting 2.86T PEPE since Dec 2026 risks supply shocks, on-chain data shows whales distributed 2.86T PEPE (~$17M) since late December 2026, increasing sell pressure, and PEPE's top 100 holders control 93.1% of supply, making retail sentiment secondary to whale liquidity moves.

By 2026, Pepe may struggle to maintain the same speculative interest as new memecoins emerge, as history suggests that meme-based assets often see declining attention unless reinvigorated by external factors, such as exchange listings or high-profile endorsements.

FACTORS THAT COULD INVALIDATE PREDICTIONS

Fundamental Limitations

Like all meme coins, PEPE has no utility and no intrinsic value, nor is there any prospect of financial gain, many analysts, including those from Benzinga and Changelly, point out that PEPE lacks utility, it doesn't power any platform, nor does it solve a technical problem.

Reviewing the Pepe project's roadmap, it appears there are no detailed plans other than anticipation that $PEPE and similar meme coins will dominate, given this lack of clear direction and with an already sizable community of over 500,000 Twitter followers, the project's price growth potential may be capped.

Regulatory and Market Risks

Regulatory scrutiny could also impact memecoin markets, if regulators introduce stricter rules on speculative assets, PEPE's growth may be hindered.

As a meme coin, PEPE is highly volatile and sentiment-driven, making it riskier than utility-based cryptocurrencies with real-world use cases.

Longevity Concerns

Memecoins typically struggle with longevity, without a strong ecosystem or real-world use cases, PEPE may face challenges competing with newer, more innovative meme-based assets.

Unrealistic Price Targets

It is highly unlikely that PEPE will reach $1, given its massive token supply, achieving a $1 price would require an astronomical market capitalization far exceeding that of Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies.

According to the Pepe Coin prediction algorithm, the price of Pepe Coin will not reach $0.01, and the price of Pepe Coin will not reach $1.

Sources

1. https://changelly.com/blog/pepe-pepe-price-prediction/
2. https://www.flitpay.com/blog/pepe-price-prediction
3. https://coincodex.com/crypto/pepe-token/price-prediction/
4. https://investinghaven.com/pepe-pepe-price-prediction/
5. https://coingape.com/price-predictions/pepe-coin-pepe-price-prediction/
6. https://www.cryptopolitan.com/pepe-price-prediction/
7. https://coinpedia.org/price-prediction/pepecoin-pepe-price-prediction/
8. https://3commas.io/predictions/pepe
9. https://coinmarketcap.com/cmc-ai/pepe/price-prediction/
10. https://stealthex.io/blog/pepe-coin-price-prediction/
11. https://www.benzinga.com/money/pepe-price-prediction
12. https://www.coinlore.com/coin/pepe/forecast/price-prediction
13. https://coindcx.com/blog/price-predictions/pepe-price-prediction/
14. https://www.kraken.com/price-prediction/pepe
15. https://digitalcoinprice.com/forecast/pepe

PEPE Price Potential Analysis

Current Market Position

PEPE currently ranks #53 on CoinGecko with a market cap of approximately $2 billion, with 420 trillion tokens in circulation. The token trades at approximately $0.0000047, representing a significant decline from its recent peak. On December 9, 2024, PEPE reached its all-time high of $0.00002825, though it currently trades 79.60% below that peak.

Historical ATH Context

In late April to May 2023, PEPE's market cap reached $1.6 billion, representing the token's initial surge phase. The December 2024 peak reflected a substantially higher valuation, demonstrating the token's capacity for significant appreciation during favorable market conditions. The current price represents a pullback from that peak but remains vastly above the token's launch price.

Market Cap Comparison Analysis

Competitive Positioning:

Shiba Inu currently holds a market cap of approximately $4.4 billion and ranks #26, while Dogecoin trades with a market cap of $32-33 billion. PEPE's current $2 billion valuation positions it below both established meme coin competitors, suggesting room for expansion within the meme coin category.

Sector Context:

The meme coin market cap reached $33.8 billion in early January 2026, indicating substantial capital allocation to the sector. PEPE represents approximately 6% of total meme coin market capitalization, leaving significant headroom for market share gains.

Supply Dynamics Impact

PEPE has 420 trillion tokens in circulation, creating a fixed supply structure. This massive token count directly constrains per-token price appreciation relative to market cap growth. A $10 billion market cap would translate to approximately $0.000024 per token—a 5x increase from current levels. A $20 billion market cap would yield roughly $0.000048 per token.

The supply structure means price appreciation depends almost entirely on market cap expansion rather than token scarcity mechanics. Unlike tokens with smaller supplies, PEPE requires proportionally larger capital inflows to achieve percentage-based price gains.

Adoption and Network Effects

PEPE has grown to 463,000 holders despite -67% yearly returns, indicating sustained community engagement through market downturns. Over the last 30 days, the network added approximately 147,000 addresses holding PEPE, suggesting ongoing adoption expansion.

However, 74 major investor addresses hold between 0.1% and 1% of total supply, cumulatively accounting for around 26% of tokens, indicating significant whale concentration. Retail investors hold less than one-third of total supply, approximately 32.4%, suggesting limited retail penetration relative to whale holdings.

TAM and Realistic Ceiling Scenarios

The total addressable market for meme coins encompasses retail speculators, community-driven investors, and cultural participants. The meme coin sector's demonstrated capacity to reach $120+ billion in aggregate market cap suggests individual tokens can achieve multi-billion valuations during favorable cycles.

Conservative Scenario (Modest Growth):

• Market cap target: $3-4 billion
• Price range: $0.000007-$0.0000095
• Drivers: Stable community maintenance, incremental adoption
• Timeframe: 12-24 months
• Probability: Moderate

Base Scenario (Current Trajectory Continuation):

• Market cap target: $5-8 billion
• Price range: $0.000012-$0.000019
• Drivers: Sustained meme coin interest, seasonal altcoin cycles
• Timeframe: 18-36 months
• Probability: Moderate-High

Optimistic Scenario (Maximum Realistic Potential):

• Market cap target: $15-25 billion
• Price range: $0.000036-$0.00006
• Drivers: Major cultural moment, mainstream adoption surge, Bitcoin bull cycle amplification
• Timeframe: 24-48 months
• Probability: Lower but feasible

Growth Catalysts

When market sentiment turns optimistic, traders rush into high-risk assets like PEPE, potentially leading to massive price spikes during bullish cycles. In 2023 and 2024, PEPE led several meme coin frenzies and often outperformed thanks to early brand recognition; if another meme wave returns, PEPE could benefit again.

Additional catalysts include:

• Major exchange listings expanding accessibility
• Social media virality and cultural moments
• Bitcoin bull market cycles driving altcoin capital rotation
• Competitive positioning against newer meme tokens

Limiting Factors and Constraints

Structural Limitations:

PEPE doesn't follow traditional valuation models and moves when attention moves; if people talk about it, price goes up, but if interest fades, so does the value, and PEPE's future price won't come from product adoption or utility but from culture, memes, and mass emotion.

PEPE's codebase has seen no significant updates since its 2023 launch, with development activity focused on exchange listings and community growth; the project's whitepaper emphasizes its simplicity as a tax-free, deflationary memecoin with no roadmap for technical upgrades.

Market Saturation:

The proliferation of meme coins creates competitive pressure. An estimated 99.9% of meme coin ventures are being wiped out, with simply surviving being a notable achievement for a meme coin.

Sentiment Dependency:

PEPE's trading volume of $485 million represents -41.69% weekly decline, with the memecoin sector's market cap dipping to ~$42 billion from December 2025's $47.7B peak, indicating bearish medium-term pressure from declining volumes suggesting reduced speculative appetite.

Price Ceiling Realism

PEPE's maximum realistic price potential depends on achieving market cap parity or dominance within the meme coin sector. Reaching Dogecoin's current $32 billion valuation would imply approximately $0.000076 per token—a 16x increase from current levels. Reaching Shiba Inu's $4.4 billion would imply approximately $0.000010 per token—a 2x increase.

The token's lack of utility, technical development, or real-world adoption creates a ceiling based purely on speculative capital allocation and cultural relevance. Unlike projects with expanding ecosystems or use cases, PEPE's upside depends entirely on sentiment cycles and meme culture momentum.

Key Takeaways

PEPE's price potential exists within defined parameters constrained by its massive supply and sentiment-driven valuation model. The $5-8 billion market cap range (representing $0.000012-$0.000019 per token) represents a realistic medium-term target during favorable market conditions. Reaching $15-25 billion would require sustained cultural dominance and major capital inflows during a pronounced altcoin bull cycle—possible but requiring specific market conditions.

The token's survival as a top-tier meme coin despite lacking technical innovation demonstrates community resilience, but this same lack of development creates a ceiling for appreciation. Price appreciation depends on external factors—Bitcoin cycles, social media trends, competitive dynamics—rather than internal project evolution.

Sources:

1. https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/pepe
2. https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/pepe/
3. https://stealthex.io/blog/pepe-coin-price-prediction/
4. https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/shiba-inu/
5. https://99bitcoins.com/guides-and-tutorials/shiba-inu-vs-dogecoin/
6. https://yellow.com/news/dogecoin-pepe-and-shiba-inu-jump-double-digits-why-meme-coins-are-2026s-first-big-bet
7. https://coinmarketcap.com/cmc-ai/pepe/latest-updates/
8. https://beincrypto.com/pepe-decoding-on-chain-metrics-trends/
9. https://learncrypto.com/popular-coins/pepe
10. https://www.mexc.com/price/PEPE/tokenomics

Comprehensive Guide to Purchasing Pepe (PEPE)

Quick Overview of Purchase Options

Pepe (PEPE) is an Ethereum-based token available on numerous centralized exchanges (CEX) and decentralized exchanges (DEX). The token has a market cap of approximately $1.96 billion and trades across multiple pairs including USDT, BTC, and ETH. Purchase methods range from traditional fiat on-ramps through major exchanges to direct token swaps on decentralized platforms.

Top Exchanges Where PEPE Is Available

Centralized Exchanges (CEX)

Major Platforms:

• Binance - Offers PEPE/USDT, PEPE/BUSD, PEPE/BTC pairs with high liquidity
• Coinbase - Supports PEPE trading with fiat on-ramp options
• Kraken - Provides PEPE/USD and PEPE/EUR pairs
• OKX - Multiple trading pairs including PEPE/USDT
• Bybit - Spot and derivatives trading available
• Gate.io - Comprehensive PEPE trading options
• Huobi - PEPE/USDT and other pairs
• Kucoin - Multiple trading pairs with competitive fees

Decentralized Exchanges (DEX)

• Uniswap (Ethereum) - Direct token swaps using smart contracts
• SushiSwap (Ethereum) - Alternative DEX with PEPE liquidity pools
• 1inch - Aggregator finding best prices across DEXs
• 0x Protocol - Decentralized trading infrastructure

Detailed Exchange Comparison

Step-by-Step Purchase Guide: Binance Method (Most Popular)

For Fiat Purchase (Easiest for Beginners)

Step 1: Create and Verify Account

1. Visit binance.com
2. Click "Register" and enter email and password
3. Complete email verification
4. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for security
5. Complete identity verification (KYC) - provide government ID and proof of address

Step 2: Add Payment Method

1. Navigate to "Wallet" → "Fiat and Spot"
2. Click "Deposit"
3. Select your country and preferred payment method (credit card, bank transfer, etc.)
4. Follow platform-specific instructions
5. Confirm deposit details

Step 3: Purchase PEPE

1. Go to the "Buy Crypto" section or search for PEPE
2. Select "PEPE" from the dropdown
3. Choose your deposit currency (USD, EUR, etc.)
4. Enter the amount you want to spend
5. Review the exchange rate and fees
6. Click "Continue" and complete payment
7. PEPE will appear in your Binance spot wallet

Step 4: Withdraw to Personal Wallet (Optional)

1. Go to "Wallet" → "Spot"
2. Find PEPE and click "Withdraw"
3. Enter your wallet address
4. Confirm the withdrawal
5. Complete any additional security prompts

For Crypto-to-Crypto Purchase (Faster)

Step 1: Fund with Existing Crypto

1. Log into Binance
2. Navigate to "Wallet" → "Deposit Crypto"
3. Select the cryptocurrency you're depositing (BTC, ETH, USDT, etc.)
4. Copy the deposit address
5. Send crypto from your external wallet

Step 2: Trade for PEPE

1. Go to "Trade" → "Spot"
2. Search for PEPE trading pair (PEPE/USDT recommended for beginners)
3. Enter the amount of USDT or other crypto to trade
4. Review the order details
5. Click "Buy PEPE"
6. Confirm the transaction

Using Uniswap (Decentralized Method)

Step 1: Prepare Wallet

1. Install MetaMask or similar Ethereum wallet
2. Fund wallet with ETH for gas fees (minimum $10-20 recommended)
3. Ensure you're on the Ethereum network

Step 2: Access Uniswap

1. Visit uniswap.org
2. Click "Connect Wallet"
3. Select MetaMask and approve connection
4. Ensure you're on Ethereum mainnet

Step 3: Swap for PEPE

1. Click "Swap"
2. Select input token (ETH, USDC, USDT, or DAI)
3. Enter amount to swap
4. Click "Select Token" for output
5. Paste PEPE contract address: 0x6982508145454ce325ddbe47a25d4ec3d2311933
6. Review the exchange rate and slippage
7. Click "Swap"
8. Approve the transaction in MetaMask
9. Confirm gas fees and complete swap

Recommended Wallets for Storing PEPE

Hot Wallets (Internet-Connected, Convenient)

MetaMask

• Browser extension and mobile app
• Ethereum-native support
• User-friendly interface
• Free to use
• Download: metamask.io

Trust Wallet

• Mobile-only (iOS and Android)
• Multi-chain support
• Built-in DEX access
• Free to use
• Download: trustwallet.com

Coinbase Wallet

• Browser extension and mobile
• Integrated with Coinbase exchange
• DApp browser for DEX access
• Free to use
• Download: coinbase.com/wallet

Ledger Live (with hardware wallet)

• Desktop and mobile app
• Connects to Ledger hardware devices
• Enhanced security for hot wallet features
• Free software, hardware device required ($60-150)
• Download: ledger.com

Cold Wallets (Offline Storage, Maximum Security)

Ledger Nano S Plus / Nano X

• Hardware wallet for Ethereum
• Stores private keys offline
• Supports PEPE token management
• Cost: $79-149
• Website: ledger.com

Trezor Model T

• Hardware wallet with touchscreen
• Ethereum and ERC-20 token support
• Air-gapped security
• Cost: $199
• Website: trezor.io

SafePal S1

• Hardware wallet with air-gap technology
• Supports Ethereum and PEPE
• Cost-effective option
• Cost: $29-49
• Website: safepal.io

Trading Pairs Available

Primary Pairs:

• PEPE/USDT (most liquid, recommended for beginners)
• PEPE/BUSD
• PEPE/USDC
• PEPE/BTC
• PEPE/ETH

Fiat Pairs:

• PEPE/USD (Coinbase, Kraken)
• PEPE/EUR (Kraken)
• PEPE/GBP (select exchanges)

DEX Pairs:

• PEPE/ETH (Uniswap, SushiSwap)
• PEPE/USDC (Uniswap)
• PEPE/DAI (Uniswap)

Fees Comparison Across Major Platforms

Centralized Exchange Fees:

• Binance: 0.1% maker / 0.1% taker (standard)
• Coinbase: 0.5%-2% depending on payment method
• Kraken: 0.16%-0.26% (tiered based on volume)
• OKX: 0.08%-0.1% (competitive rates)
• Bybit: 0.1% maker / 0.1% taker

Decentralized Exchange Fees:

• Uniswap: 0.01% (0.01% tier), 0.05%, 0.3%, or 1% depending on pool
• SushiSwap: 0.25% or 1% depending on pool
• 1inch: 0% protocol fee (aggregator)

Withdrawal Fees (CEX to Wallet):

• Binance: 0.001 PEPE (approximately $0.000005)
• Coinbase: Variable, typically $1-5 in network fees
• Kraken: 0.001 PEPE
• OKX: 0.001 PEPE

Gas Fees (DEX Transactions):

• Ethereum network: $5-50+ depending on network congestion
• Varies by time of day and transaction complexity

Security Best Practices for Buying and Storing PEPE

Before Purchase:

1. Verify you're on official websites (check URLs carefully)
2. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all exchange accounts
3. Use strong, unique passwords for each platform
4. Never share recovery phrases or private keys
5. Research the exchange's security history and reputation

During Purchase:

1. Start with small amounts to test the process
2. Double-check wallet addresses before confirming transactions
3. Verify contract address when using DEXs: 0x6982508145454ce325ddbe47a25d4ec3d2311933
4. Review gas fees and slippage settings before confirming
5. Screenshot transaction details for records

After Purchase:

1. Transfer to a personal wallet you control (not exchange wallet)
2. For large amounts, use a hardware wallet (cold storage)
3. Keep recovery phrases written down and stored securely (offline)
4. Never store recovery phrases digitally or in cloud services
5. Regularly verify wallet balances match your records
6. Use hardware wallets for amounts exceeding $5,000

Ongoing Security:

1. Keep wallet software and browser extensions updated
2. Avoid public WiFi when accessing wallets or exchanges
3. Use VPN for additional privacy
4. Never click links in emails or messages claiming to be from exchanges
5. Verify contract addresses on Etherscan before interacting with tokens
6. Be cautious of phishing attempts and fake websites

KYC Requirements Overview

Centralized Exchanges (All Require KYC):

Tier 1 (Basic):

• Email verification
• Phone number verification
• Typically allows $500-$2,000 daily withdrawal limit

Tier 2 (Intermediate):

• Government-issued ID (passport, driver's license)
• Proof of address (utility bill, bank statement)
• Typically allows $10,000-$50,000 daily withdrawal limit
• Most users complete this tier

Tier 3 (Advanced):

• Additional documentation (source of funds, employment verification)
• Video verification in some cases
• Unlimited or very high withdrawal limits
• Required for institutional traders

Decentralized Exchanges (No KYC):

• Uniswap, SushiSwap, and other DEXs require no identity verification
• Only require a connected wallet
• Trades are pseudonymous but recorded on blockchain
• No withdrawal limits

Regional Variations:

• United States: Most exchanges require full KYC
• European Union: GDPR compliance required; stricter data protection
• United Kingdom: FCA-regulated exchanges require KYC
• Asia: Varies by country; Singapore and Japan have strict requirements
• Some countries restrict access to certain exchanges entirely

Regional Availability Notes

Widely Available:

• United States (all major CEXs)
• European Union (Binance, Kraken, OKX with restrictions)
• United Kingdom (Kraken, Bybit)
• Canada (Binance, Coinbase, Kraken)
• Australia (Binance, Coinbase, Kraken)
• Singapore (Binance, OKX, Bybit)
• Japan (GMO Coin, Liquid)

Restricted or Limited:

• China: CEX access restricted; DEX access available via VPN
• Iran: Most exchanges blocked; DEX access available
• North Korea: All cryptocurrency exchanges blocked
• Syria: International sanctions limit exchange access
• Crimea: US-based exchanges unavailable

Decentralized Alternative:
Users in restricted regions can access DEXs like Uniswap directly through a wallet and VPN, though this carries additional legal and security considerations depending on local regulations.

Alternative Purchase Methods

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Trading:

• Binance P2P: Direct trading with other users, multiple payment methods
• LocalBitcoins: Trade BTC for fiat, then swap to PEPE
• Advantages: More payment options, potentially lower fees
• Disadvantages: Higher counterparty risk, slower transactions

Bitcoin ATMs:

1. Locate nearby Bitcoin ATM (coinatmradar.com)
2. Insert cash
3. Receive Bitcoin to wallet
4. Trade Bitcoin for PEPE on exchange or DEX

• Advantages: Immediate, no account needed
• Disadvantages: High fees (5-15%), limited availability

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Trading:

• Available through Binance OTC, Kraken OTC
• For large purchases ($100,000+)
• Direct trading with dedicated account managers
• Lower slippage for large orders
• Requires higher verification levels

Mining or Staking Rewards:

• Earn ETH through staking, then swap for PEPE
• Requires existing cryptocurrency holdings
• Not practical for new buyers

Official Resources

• Pepe Official Website: pepe.vip
• Etherscan (Contract Verification): etherscan.io/token/0x6982508145454ce325ddbe47a25d4ec3d2311933
• Uniswap: uniswap.org
• MetaMask: metamask.io
• Ledger: ledger.com