In the cryptocurrency field, memes come and go, but Ponke's goals are much more enduring. With its highly recognizable mascot, a thriving community, and a growing range of physical merchandise and licensing deals, the team behind Ponke is creating not just a token; they are building a brand.
We discussed with the Ponke team about their community-building approach, what it takes to create original character IP in cryptocurrency, and how they leverage digital collectibles and retail partnerships to bridge the gap between internet culture and everyday collectors.
Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
OpenSea: So let's start with the origin story. Is there a story behind the Ponke brand and token?
Ponke: Ponke is a token created by traders for traders. In the legend of Ponke, this character was born from the fallen energy of the Solana memecoin casino.
We have a video that vividly showcases the scene at that time: people trading frantically, trying to make money, losing everything, the raw chaotic energy accumulating and ultimately shooting into the sky, where a beam of light struck the earth, giving birth to Ponke.
From day one, our mission has been to resonate with the trading community. We wanted to create a mascot that truly embodies their intuition, sense of humor, and emotional ups and downs. Ponke is that figure; he looks like a meme because he is a meme.
People point out its similarity to Pepe the Frog. Yes, that is intentional; it immediately resonates. The moment you see Ponke, you know the vibe; the design itself is infused with emotional resonance.
We know that to build a lasting brand, we need a character that can be instantly recognized and emotionally resonate with the audience. Clearly, we have struck a chord with them. The trading community loves Ponke, and our content continues to go viral on Instagram, TikTok, and now YouTube. This character has a charm that captivates at first sight, and this energy has been driving the entire project.
OpenSea: That's really smart; you meet people where they are familiar, reflecting their feelings instead of trying to force them to accept a different model. I think that’s very effective.
Ponke: Yes, it brings a level of authenticity to what we've created. Many memecoins simply borrow existing memes and tokenize them. We want to create the same emotional resonance while actually owning and controlling the intellectual property. If you don't own what you build, you can't create a lasting brand.
This ownership grants us flexibility to expand into areas that most memecoins cannot reach. You can look at projects like Pudgy Penguins, Azuki, or Doodles—they have developed into complete IP ecosystems, but most memecoins do not own the memes they are based on, so they are limited, whereas we are not.
OpenSea: Alright, let's continue discussing this topic. You just mentioned the character and why it resonates. Do you have bigger plans for this IP?
Ponke: In May of this year, we signed a global licensing agreement with 223, a subsidiary of JCorp, one of the world's largest licensed merchandise manufacturers and distributors. They have worked with IPs like Disney, Marvel, (Star Wars), (Naruto), (Rick and Morty), and so on.
Through 223, we plan to develop collectibles aimed at adult collectors (e.g., designer toys and streetwear) who enjoy popular art figures like Labubu or KAWS, or fashion brands like Supreme and Palace.
We already have a high-quality clothing line, but 223 has brought us retail distribution relationships that we could not achieve on our own. They not only give us creative flexibility but also expand our physical impact. Our true goal is to build a bridge to crypto culture through these collectibles. Therefore, all the products we sell through 223 will embed NFC chips that can link to digital goods, digital collectibles, proof of ownership, rewards, and other tokenized goods.
OpenSea: What do you think people outside the cryptocurrency field find interesting about this culture?
Ponke: Yes, we do not see it as broad 'crypto culture'; we see it as Ponke culture.
At the beginning of June, we attended the Las Vegas Licensing Expo, where 75% of the exhibits were focused on character IPs rather than traditional brands, ranging from (Where's Willy?) to (Dragon Ball), (One Piece), (Snoopy), (Shrek), (He-Man), and everything in between, each IP having its own style and fanbase.
This is the model we are building. Our goal is to have people resonate with Ponke as a character first. If they are attracted to Ponke's humor or the meaning he represents, like the ups and downs of trading, then the cryptocurrency aspect will naturally extend into that experience.
OpenSea: Yes, it doesn’t feel forced.
Ponke: That's right, buying Ponke plush toys or mystery box collectibles should feel very intuitive. As for the cryptocurrency aspect? That should be second nature. Our idea isn't to make people struggle to purchase wallets, keys, and hardware; they just need a phone to tap the NFC chip to access their digital goods.
OpenSea: The environment is changing, and regulations are changing. What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about the memecoin space, especially for those outside the cryptocurrency field?
Ponke: It’s hard to explain. For us, Meme represents the future of marketing. We witnessed this firsthand in Las Vegas; people were interested in Ponke not because they care about meme coins or cryptocurrencies, but because they see this character as a meme, something that feels familiar, like an inherent part of internet culture.
OpenSea: Right.
Ponke: Trading memecoins is essentially cultural trading. You invest capital into what you believe is most significant during specific cultural moments; that’s why it’s so volatile. What sets Ponke apart is its persistence.
Perhaps one day, another meme will capture the heart of the internet but will quickly fade away, while Ponke is more like a Bart Simpson character, eternal and timeless, able to keep up with the times.
So when I talk to people about this field, I say: memecoins are the financialization of culture, and Ponke is the future of marketing, and that’s where the real value lies.
OpenSea: There has always been a connection between finance and culture, but it has never been as direct or swift as it is now. The evolution of relevant tools is so rapid that brands can even build around a single cultural moment.
Ponke: That’s right. In a way, it all started with NFTs. I first learned about OpenSea during the NFT boom of 2021-2022, which paved the way for memecoins. At that time, NFTs were compared to collectibles like Beanie Babies, Pog, Pokémon cards, which were tangible items that people encountered growing up, but now they are all digital.
Memecoins are more accessible; you just need to spend 15 cents to join the Ponke Legion. Just one PONKE token is enough to prove you are part of this movement, with a total supply of 555 million PONKE tokens, which is enough to distribute.
I believe that without the era of NFTs, the success of memecoins would not have been possible; at that time, people were already used to expressing identity through digital assets. NFTs made this practice commonplace, and now memecoins are accelerating this shift and further pushing it into the mainstream.
OpenSea: I agree with the role OpenSea plays in this transition, especially after we expanded our token trading business. It’s not just a platform for purchasing tokens; we have established a cultural hub through NFTs, and now token trading can also happen within the same ecosystem.
Ponke: Yes, absolutely. The market is not just a place for trading; it’s where people gather, where their community lives.
Personally, I have always loved OpenSea's gallery view, the visual appeal of browsing NFT collections makes collecting fun. Later, other markets tried to optimize for trading by reducing image sizes and diminishing visual effects, but OpenSea's expansive gallery layout is unparalleled.
OpenSea: Exactly.
Ponke: The same philosophy is reflected on the token page of OpenSea, which emphasizes visual storytelling. Not all memecoins have this capability, but Ponke certainly does. We worked with your team to customize our page, making it more in line with our brand, which makes it an excellent communication platform, unlike DexTools or DexScreener, which are mainly filled with charts, banners, and logos.
OpenSea: I certainly agree, but hearing this from someone outside OpenSea is significant, and the team would greatly appreciate it. We just talked about the community, and I’d like to delve deeper into this topic. What role does the Ponke community play in your decision-making? How well do you collaborate with them?
Ponke: The Ponke community, or what we call the Ponke Legion, is crucial to our success. Without them, I think our content wouldn't have gone viral as quickly as it has. After all, your community is your brand. When your X account gets banned, they support you, they help spread your message; they are your most loyal advocates.
We currently have three Telegram channels. One is our Ponke announcement channel, from where you can join our main chat room, which has about 24,000 members. This is the core of the community, where everyone shares memes, market dynamics, Ponke stickers, and more.
Then there’s Club Ponke, which is our token-gated VIP chat room that you can access through ponkeswap.xyz. You need to hold about 43,000 tokens to join. This group offers a more direct communication channel with the team, where we share alpha versions within reason and listen to holders' feedback.
OpenSea: Makes sense.
Ponke: To be honest, a lot of our content ideas come from the community. Some of our most popular Reel videos are based on community suggestions. There are hundreds of GIFs on Tenor, many of which are created based on requests from holders, especially those that align with the market trends or specific field trends.
OpenSea: I’m curious about what comes next. Can you share any future plans or details regarding Ponke?
Ponke: Yes, absolutely. The global licensing partnership with 223 has opened many doors for us. After the Las Vegas Licensing Expo, we connected with many new clients. Some asked how Ponke could integrate their IP or retail strategies. We expect to announce one or two brand collaborations before the end of the year, and some exciting collaborative projects are already scheduled.
OpenSea: Awesome.
Ponke: I can't disclose specific details just yet, but we are definitely keeping an eye on the craze for blind box collectibles. We also hope to resume our clothing line soon, and we are very excited about the Ponke plush toys.
This plush toy means a lot to us. It will be released through both online and offline channels, and it will also launch an exclusive online version. We released a Genesis NFT called 'Ponke Day Ones' on Telegram, and now we are launching the Genesis Ponke Plush, which will only be available online. Players who hold any Genesis Ponke Plush will receive priority for purchasing future collaborative products.
OpenSea: Awesome! Thanks again! It’s a pleasure chatting.
Ponke: Me too, I look forward to you seeing what happens next.
Note: The information provided in this article, including references to any cryptocurrency, token, memecoin, NFT, or other digital asset, is for general reference and educational purposes only. Nothing in this article constitutes or should be understood as financial, investment, or trading advice.
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