In late May 2025, the Pepe Unchained team announced the migration of its entire Layer-2 infrastructure to a new solution powered by Arbitrum. This move marks a strategic pivot designed to address deprecations in their existing stack, improve scalability, and enhance long-term security for the $PEPU community.
Why the Move? Deprecation of Custom Gas Tokens
Pepe Unchained’s previous architecture relied heavily on Custom Gas Tokens (CGTs) built atop OP Rollups. When OP Rollups announced the deprecation of CGTs, it threatened the foundation of the project’s transaction-fee optimization and smart-contract interactions. The team opted for a fully managed Layer-2 environment under Arbitrum’s proven security and support framework to safeguard performance and ensure uninterrupted service.
Launching the All-New $PEPU Token
Migrating to a new Layer-2 necessitated a fresh token contract. The team deployed a new $PEPU token at address 0x93aA0ccD1e5628d3A841C4DbdF602D9eb04085d6 on the Ethereum Mainnet. This token swap preserves 1:1 parity with legacy $PEPU holdings and underpins the economics of the new chain while introducing improved contract flexibility for future upgrades.
Migration Process and Airdrops
Snapshot & Airdrops
- A comprehensive snapshot captured every $PEPU holder across L1 and L2, including staked, migrated, and legacy balances.
- Airdrop Schedule:
- May 28, 2025, 12:00 UTC: Unstaked legacy balances receive new $PEPU on Ethereum Mainnet.
- June 6, 2025: Staked balances and unbridged L2 tokens are airdropped alongside accrued staking rewards.
Liquidity Transition
- Legacy $PEPU liquidity was unlocked and liquidated, then redeployed into the new token’s Uniswap pool, which is now fully locked for added security.
Centralized Exchanges
- The trading of old $PEPU was halted temporarily to facilitate automatic 1:1 swaps on CEX platforms. Exchanges will resume trading once they complete internal processes, requiring no action from users.
The New Arbitrum-Powered Layer-2
Rather than building a bespoke chain, Pepe Unchained’s new Layer-2 will operate as an independent instance under Arbitrum’s rollup framework. This partnership delivers:
- Enhanced Security: Arbitrum’s battle-tested fraud proofs and decentralized sequencers.
- Scalability: Lower fees and faster finality for high-volume dApp usage.
- Ecosystem Synergy: Access to bridges, tooling, and integrations already thriving in the Arbitrum ecosystem.
Upcoming Ecosystem Features
- Pump Pad Relaunch: The arcade-style launchpad returns fully overhauled for performance and stability, promising a more engaging community experience.
- Developer Grants (FWB Program): The Pepe Frens With Benefits initiative is now open for submissions, offering funding and resources to build new dApps and tooling for the $PEPU chain.
- Staking 2.0: With an expanded token supply, the revamped staking program will feature higher rewards and new incentive structures to secure the network and reward loyal holders.
- Dedicated Bridge Deployment: A bespoke bridge will launch alongside (or shortly after) the new chain, enabling seamless token transfers between Ethereum and the Arbitrum-powered $PEPU network
What This Means for the Community
This migration represents more than a technical upgrade, and it’s a recommitment to building a resilient, scalable ecosystem that can support ambitious on-chain applications and community-driven initiatives. By leveraging Arbitrum’s security and performance, Pepe Unchained lays the groundwork for sustained growth, developer innovation, and robust DeFi experiences.
The Bottom Line
As $PEPU transitions to its own Layer-2 under Arbitrum, holders and builders alike can look forward to reduced fees, enhanced security, and a richer suite of ecosystem features. With a clear migration roadmap, locked liquidity, and a fresh token contract, Pepe Unchained is poised for its next growth phase, inviting all “frens” to join in pumping its potential to new heights. Stay tuned for further updates and get ready to explore the new Pepe Unchained universe!
