Pepe Unchained

What Pepe Unchained does

Pepe Unchained is a privately-held blockchain project founded in 2024 that operates an Ethereum Layer 2 network (V2 Mainnet, Chain ID 97741) built on Conduit and purpose-built for the meme economy. Its core technology is a rollup-style L2 optimized for low gas fees, high throughput, and fast settlement, into which an integrated stack of products is deployed: PepuBridge for non-custodial L1-L2 transfers (~10 minute settlement), PepuSwap (a Uniswap-like native DEX), $PEPU staking (6.34 $PEPU distributed per block, 7-day lock), PepeScan block explorer, a developer grant program called Frens With Benefits, a meme-coin launchpad called PumpPad, and an SDK delivered through a partnership with Thirdweb. The native $PEPU token (Ethereum contract 0x93aA0ccD1e5628d3A841C4DbdF602D9eb04085d6) is the unit of gas, governance, and staking across the ecosystem.

The company serves three primary personas: meme coin creators/collectors/traders who need low-cost, fast execution for time-sensitive trading; blockchain developers recruited via the grant program and Thirdweb SDK; and crypto traders using the DEX. Go-to-market is entirely product-led and community-led, with self-serve onboarding through the website, distribution across five centralized exchanges (MEXC, LBank, BitMart, BingX, XT.COM) and Uniswap, and community building through Telegram (main and developer channels) and Twitter/X.

The business model is usage-based: the protocol generates revenue (in $PEPU) through gas fees on L2 transactions, swap and liquidity-provision fees on PepuSwap, and bridge transfer fees — none of which are publicly quantified. Two disclosed 2024 funding rounds totaled approximately $67,500,000; investors are uncredited. Leadership disclosure is limited to a single named co-founder (Big Lolo), and no headcount, governance structure, or institutional ownership data is publicly available.

Name

Pepe Unchained

Legal name

Pepe Unchained

Website

https://pepeunchained.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Pepe Unchained is a 2024-launched Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain (V2 Mainnet, Chain ID 97741) purpose-built for the meme economy, offering an integrated stack of bridge, native DEX, staking, block explorer, meme-coin launchpad, and developer grants to retail meme traders, meme-token creators, and Web3 developers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Layer 2 Blockchain Infrastructure

NAICS

Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320)

SIC

Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

Cross-Chain Bridges & Interoperability Protocols (FSADAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interoperability & Cross-Chain Infrastructure (Bridges, Messaging, Atomic Swaps) (FSAGAMAI)

Keywords

• Layer 2 blockchain
• Decentralized exchange
• Crypto staking
• Cross-chain bridge
• Memecoin ecosystem

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Transaction/Gas Fees: Users pay gas fees in PEPU for transactions on the Layer 2 network. Lower fees compared to Ethereum L1 while maintaining security.
2. DEX Trading Fees: The native DEX on Pepe Unchained L2 generates trading fees from swap operations and liquidity provision.
3. Bridge Fees: Bridge services between Ethereum L1 and Pepe Unchained L2 generate fees for transfers.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pepe Unchained is an Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain built with Conduit and purpose-built for the meme economy. The platform provides an integrated ecosystem including a non-custodial cross-chain bridge (PepuBridge), a native decentralized exchange (PepuSwap), a block explorer (PepeScan), native $PEPU staking, a meme-coin launch platform (PumpPad), and developer tooling via a Thirdweb SDK.

Product overview

Pepe Unchained is a unified Layer 2 blockchain platform purpose-built for the meme economy, offering a comprehensive ecosystem of tools and services. The core offering is the Pepe Unchained Layer 2 Blockchain, an Ethereum L2 that provides faster transactions and lower fees. The ecosystem includes the PepuBridge for cross-layer transfers, PepuSwap DEX for token trading, $PEPU Staking for earning rewards, PepeScan Block Explorer for network transparency, and the Frens with Benefits Program providing developer grants. The Pepe Unchained SDK (via Thirdweb partnership) enables developers to build dApps and smart contracts, while PumpPad supports meme coin launches. $PEPU is the native token required for all network operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pepe Unchained Layer 2 Blockchain A purpose-built Ethereum Layer 2 network optimized for the meme economy, providing fast and low-cost transactions for individual crypto users.
• PepuBridge A non-custodial bridge service that lets users transfer assets between Ethereum mainnet and the Pepe Unchained Layer 2 network.
• PepuSwap DEX Native decentralized exchange enabling users to swap tokens directly on the Pepe Unchained Layer 2 network.
• $PEPU Staking Staking platform for the native $PEPU token that allows holders to earn rewards based on a dynamic staking structure.
• PepeScan A block explorer that allows users to view and verify transactions, wallet addresses, and token activity on the Pepe Unchained network.
• PumpPad A meme-coin launch platform on Pepe Unchained that enables users to create and deploy new meme tokens on the network.
• Pepe Unchained SDK (via Thirdweb) A developer SDK provided via Thirdweb that allows builders to create decentralized applications on the Pepe Unchained Layer 2 network.
• $PEPU Token The native token of the Pepe Unchained ecosystem, used for gas fees, staking, and participating in the Layer 2 network.

Quantifiable outcome

• Significantly lower transaction costs compared to Ethereum L1 during peak times
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ThirdwebcoreTechnology or IntegrationThirdweb is a trusted development platform providing the Pepe Unchained SDK. Thirdweb equips developers with the ability to seamlessly develop and deploy smart contracts, build blockchain games, create custom tools and dApps. Features include code-free deployment, cross-chain support, developer-friendly documentation, and live community support.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Shibarium: Shiba Inu's Layer 2 blockchain, purpose-built for the Shiba community and meme-coin ecosystem. Most directly comparable to Pepe Unchained as a community-branded L2 with native DEX (Shibaswap), bridge, and staking targeting meme-token users.
• Dogechain: EVM-compatible L2/L1 hybrid chain built for the Dogecoin community, featuring low fees and a DEX for meme-coin trading. Directly comparable meme-themed chain pursuing similar retail/community-led GTM.

Broad incumbents

• Polygon: Mature Ethereum scaling ecosystem with PoS and zkEVM chains hosting numerous meme and community tokens. Comparable as an L2/sidechain target for meme-coin deployment, with materially deeper liquidity and tooling.
• Base: Coinbase-incubated Layer 2 that has become the dominant venue for meme-coin launches and trading on Ethereum. Indirect competitor — Pepe Unchained must convince meme issuers to deploy on its chain rather than Base, where liquidity and tooling are far deeper.
• Solana: High-throughput L1 that has captured the majority of meme-coin trading volume outside Ethereum. Competes for the same end users (meme traders seeking low fees and fast execution) and arguably sets the user-experience benchmark Pepe Unchained is emulating.

Emerging players

• Blast: Newer general-purpose Ethereum L2 with native yield and growing meme-coin activity. Comparable as a similarly new L2 competing for the same retail and developer mindshare in the meme economy.
• Sui: High-performance L1 with growing meme-coin and DeFi activity. Comparable as a non-Ethereum chain competing for meme-trader liquidity through low fees and fast finality.
• Abstract Chain: Consumer-focused L2 from Igloo Inc. (Pudgy Penguins) targeting meme and NFT communities with low fees and a similar integrated app-chain playbook. Closely analogous strategic positioning to Pepe Unchained.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pepe_unchained

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pepe Unchained