Pepe the Crocodile $krok is launching on Ethereum on September 2024

The thick layering of interpretive frames and indexical elements accruing around the “Pepe the Frog” character between 2015 and 2018 is perhaps the process that most poignantly captures the construction of digital media cultures in platform times. The anthropomorphic frog originally appeared as a protagonist of Matt Furie’s indie comic series Boy’s Club (2006). By 2010, the character’s stylized expression had already become one of the most distinctive examples of American digital folklore: one specific comic panel (in which Pepe pronounces the by now iconic sentence “feels good man” after peeing) started circulating in relatively unknown bodybuilding forums; when the image was picked up by users of larger discussion boards like Something Awful, 4chan, and Reddit, it was quickly spun into an endless series of self-referential variations.

The fortuitous and unpredictable popularity of Pepe — cropped out from Furie’s comic pages, inventively augmented through image editing software and widely copy-pasted across digital media platforms — cemented it as one of the most representative examples of an “Internet meme”. The “Pepe the Frog” meme has been repeatedly invoked as a textbook case study of how, after the global popularization of Internet access and the imbrication of social media platforms in everyday life, the creative practices of digital media users can propel anyone or anything up the plateau of a momentary and self-fulfilling relevance. Matt Furie himself, reflecting on the unexpected online fame achieved by one of his artistic creations, describes the cultural dynamics exemplified in the circulation of Pepe in terms of a “post-capitalist” vernacular creativity: “it’s like a decentralized folk art, with people taking it, doing their own thing with it, and then capitalizing on it using bumper stickers or t-shirts”.

Despite the global reach of its iconicity, the history of Pepe — from its origins in independent comics to its moment of mainstream limelight on the social media accounts of celebrities like Nicky Minaj or Katy Perry — has for the most part been narrated as a thoroughly American story. Throughout the 2016 US Presidential election year, the archetypal meme frog has experienced a further bout of popularity after being adopted as a humor device by Donald Trump supporters, identified by the Hillary Clinton campaign as white supremacist iconography, and condemned by the Anti-Defamation League as an “antisemitic symbol” — all the while being continually repurposed as the protagonist of increasingly complex and self-referential genres of Internet memes including “Rare Pepes,” “Cult of Kek,” and “Beta Uprising”. Repeatedly interviewed about the political reappropriations that turned his iconic character into a “culturally thick object”, Matt Furie has minimized this phenomenon as “just a product of the internet”. And yet, years before its spells of mainstream popularity and its contested political interpretations, Pepe had already found its way to Chinese social media platforms with surprising outcomes.

In early 2014, a researcher doing fieldwork in China encountered their first Chinese Pepe. A friend from Shanghai sent them a QQ message containing the familiar image of a frog with teary eyes and pouty lips. When asked if they knew the origin of the image, the friend explained it was called shangxin qingwa, or “sad frog,” but had no idea of its roots. They simply found it funny, noting its popularity on Baidu Tieba forums, where various versions were circulating. Over the following months, more friends, acquaintances, and interviewees began incorporating shangxin qingwa into online interactions, describing the frog as a “weird” yet “funny” character whose existential sadness resonated with them.

The depiction of Pepe as a crocodile traces back to platforms like 4chan, Reddit, and even DeviantArt. However, we often see him shared as “sad” on boards around China. Krok, a character derived from this concept while staying true to its origins, is a German crocodile. It’s still unclear whether Krok is a native German or just mimicking one. While Matt Furie’s Boys Club members, Pepe and his friends, were already introduced and gained millions of fans, Krok missed the show because he spent too much time in the bathroom. As of September 2024, after missing countless opportunities to get rich through memecoins, Krok offers a breath of fresh air for the degens. With the slogan “no cabal, no airdrop, the world’s most open launch ever,” Krok presents a new alternative for those who missed out on previous opportunities, hinting that the real show will begin when Krok finally steps out of the bathroom. Krok also remains one of the most hidden characters to date, making him even more alluring.

Despite the looming recession, potential world war, and other global crises, Krok emerges from the bathroom to offer a different opportunity. Krok, whether a real German or just pretending to be one, is a stand-up comedian. His biggest dream is to host his own show called Krok.show. Krok is a unique character — he enjoys analytical and rational approaches but paradoxically embraces an extreme level of acceptance. If Krok were to lose $69k today, he’d spend the evening joking about it with his friends, laughing to himself for days. He’s someone who quickly adapts to life’s challenges at this level.

Krok is a crocodile deeply attached to his family. He has dreams and sees the New World not as a threat, but as an opportunity. He believes the uncertainty and chaos of this New World will offer unprecedented “easy access to great opportunities.” Krok wants to form a movement with people who are determined to continue in the New World without giving up and who have not yet abandoned writing their own story, refusing to accept the roles assigned to them by the system. That’s why Krok is starting his long journey on Ethereum. He will operate like a brand and grow with the spirit of community. Since you’ve read this article this far, you’re one of us. Join the Telegram page and stay connected. Big things are coming.

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