Pepe Unchained
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- Headquarters—
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
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.
Pepe Unchained firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Pepe Unchained industry classification
Industry- 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
Pepe Unchained business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- 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.
- DEX Trading Fees: The native DEX on Pepe Unchained L2 generates trading fees from swap operations and liquidity provision.
- 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
Pepe Unchained product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Pepe Unchained
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Pepe Unchained technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature6 records
Pepe Unchained partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- ThirdwebcoreThirdweb 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
Pepe Unchained competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Pepe Unchained social profiles
Digital presencePepe Unchained financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pepe Unchained leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Pepe Unchained funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pepe Unchained M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pepe Unchained
What does Pepe Unchained do?
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.
Is Pepe Unchained a public or private company?
Pepe Unchained is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Pepe Unchained founded?
Pepe Unchained was founded in 2024.
How does Pepe Unchained make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Transaction/Gas Fees are the primary driver. The others are DEX Trading Fees and bridge Fees.
Who are Pepe Unchained's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Shibarium and Dogechain. Broad incumbents are Polygon, Base and Solana. Emerging players are Blast, Sui and Abstract Chain.
Does Pepe Unchained have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pepe Unchained.
What industry is Pepe Unchained in?
Pepe Unchained's product category is Layer 2 Blockchain Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSADAMAG, Cross-Chain Bridges & Interoperability Protocols, with a secondary code of FSAGAMAI, Interoperability & Cross-Chain Infrastructure (Bridges, Messaging, Atomic Swaps). Its NAICS code is 522320 and its SIC code is 6199.