Matt Furie, Pepe, and the Origins of Meme Culture in Crypto

lot of people in crypto know Pepe, but fewer actually know the roots behind it.

The character comes from , who originally created Pepe in his 2005 comic Boy’s Club. Back then, it wasn’t about money, tokens, or speculation it was just an internet character that organically spread across forums and meme culture.

Fast forward to today, and Pepe has become one of the most recognized symbols in crypto, especially with meme coins. What’s interesting is how something that started as a piece of indie art evolved into a multi-billion dollar narrative across different market cycles.

There’s also an older piece from Furie sometimes referred to as “Peace Frog,” which reflects themes of conflict and the desire for peace created during a time of global wars.

Do projects tied to established internet culture have more longevity, or does success in this space come down purely to timing, liquidity, and attention?