The development of Pepe images: from internet meme to cultural phenomenon

Pepe images are not just a sad face in a picture — their history contains complex stories about the development of internet culture, politics, and cryptocurrency. This is the journey of a Pepe image from a simple piece of art to a global cultural phenomenon.

When Pepe the Frog was born from Boy’s Club comics

In 2005, American artist Matt Furie created the character Pepe the Frog in the comic Boy’s Club. Initially, Pepe was just an ordinary character in the comic strips. But a specific scene changed everything — when Pepe says “Feels good, man” with a particular gesture, the first meme of this character was born.

In the following years, Pepe’s image gradually gained popularity. In 2008, the image appeared on 4chan — a forum where users started to alter Pepe’s facial expressions and sayings. From there, countless variations emerged: Sad Pepe, Smug Pepe, Feels Bad Man, and many more.

From emoticon to political controversy

Over time, Pepe became a unique visual language. Each version expressed a different emotional state — from sadness, loneliness, anger to happiness. It became a symbol used by millions online to communicate.

However, during 2015–2016, Pepe began to be used for political purposes. Right-wing groups in the U.S. exploited this image in political campaigns, including supporting Donald Trump. This shift sparked intense controversy. Even the Anti-Defamation League added some versions of Pepe to their hate symbol list. Nonetheless, Matt Furie — the creator of Pepe — publicly opposed the misuse of his creation, emphasizing that Pepe originally did not carry hateful connotations.

Rare Pepe images and their role in the crypto community

On 4chan, a new trend emerged: “Rare Pepe” — unique and rare versions of the meme. These Pepe images became highly popular, even bought and sold as collectible art. Their value increased as the digital community discovered them.

In the world of cryptocurrency, Pepe images inspired many new projects. NFTs and tokens based on Pepe images were created, including projects on the Counterparty platform. This shows that Pepe has gone beyond ordinary memes — it has become a tool for digital creativity and investment.

Today, Pepe images continue to evolve. Do you want to create your own Pepe version — like “Pepe Zát” with insights into blockchain? Or even craft a rare Pepe for your community? The possibilities of Pepe images are only limited by our imagination.