Original Title: "A New Member Joins the Pepe Family — RATO Surges 70 Times in 3 Days!"
Original Author: Luke, Mars Finance
The Rise of RATO: A New Star in Ethereum Meme Coins
On May 11, 2025, a new meme coin named RATO emerged on the Ethereum network. According to GMGN market data, its market cap once broke through $30 million, then fell back to $26.01 million, with a 24-hour increase of up to 62.44%. This lightning-fast rise is the charm of meme coins — they ride the wave of community enthusiasm and internet culture, sweeping through the crypto market. What is RATO? Why has it ignited investors' passions in an instant?
RATO is the tokenized embodiment of the character "Rato the Rat" from the new book by American cartoonist Matt Furie. This mouse, who surfs alongside Pepe the Frog, originates from Furie's "Boys Club" comic universe. Pepe's meme coin $PEPE once achieved a remarkable market cap of $4.7 billion (in 2023), and RATO, as Pepe's "new brother," naturally carries the same cultural genes. Its core is simple yet captivating: a clever mouse, infused with Pepe-style humor and rebellion, symbolizes the mocking spirit of the internet generation. On the X platform, @crypto_crane888 shared RATO's 25-fold return, while @BidaoOfficial recorded its market cap soaring from $400,000 to $33 million, with some claiming to have achieved 80 times returns in the Telegram group.
RATO's explosive popularity is no coincidence. The current crypto market is in a bull run, with Bitcoin breaking $100,000 and Ethereum stabilizing at $2,000 thanks to the Pectra upgrade and the spot ETF craze. Compared to the meme coin frenzy on the Solana chain's Pump.fun ecosystem, the Ethereum chain urgently needs a new star to revitalize its momentum. RATO emerged at the right time, with @Sanfu888 pointing out its rise from a low market cap of $187,000, aligning with the wave of Ethereum's revival. RATO's contract address (0xf816507e690f5aa4e29d164885eb5fa7a5627860) has gone viral on X and Telegram, as the mouse symbolizes wit and survival in popular culture, resonating with the rebellious psychology of meme coin enthusiasts, making RATO the latest spark in Ethereum meme coins.
The Pepe Family: The Rise and Charm of the Meme Coin Dynasty
To understand RATO, one must consider the Pepe family — a meme coin empire rooted in Matt Furie's "Boys Club." Pepe the Frog, born in 2005, conquered the internet with the "Feels Good Man" meme. Its rise stems from grassroots internet culture: Pepe's emotions perfectly capture the complex feelings of Generation Z, becoming a borderless cultural symbol from 4chan to Reddit and into the global meme repository. Despite being misappropriated by extremist groups, Furie has worked through legal and charitable actions to restore Pepe's reputation. In 2023, the $PEPE token emerged, skyrocketing to a market cap of $1.6 billion within weeks, and as of May 11, 2025, its price reached $0.000012, with a market cap of approximately $5.3 billion.
Why is the Pepe family so beloved? First, there is emotional resonance. Pepe's image is simple yet versatile, whether funny, satirical, or melancholic, it always strikes a chord. Furie's "Boys Club" humorously depicts the "loser" lives of characters like frogs and mice, resonating with the confusion and self-mockery of the internet generation. Secondly, there is the power of community. $PEPE has gained investor trust through zero taxes, locked liquidity, and immutable contract design. On the X platform, fan-created memes and art are abundant, and community activities like NFT releases and meme contests further ignite enthusiasm. Finally, Furie's personal brand crowns the family, giving it authenticity and distinguishing it from countless altcoins in the market.
The Pepe family is not limited to $PEPE. Characters like Andy, Brett, and Landwolf from "Boys Club" have also spawned tokens, with $ANDY and $BRETT listed on BinanceUS, boasting market caps of approximately $35 million and $42 million, respectively. FloppyPepe (FPPE) is a newcomer, integrating an AI meme generator, with a market cap of about $15 million, making its way into the CoinGecko AI index. Although these tokens are smaller than $PEPE, they each possess their own charm due to sharing the narrative of Furie's universe. The family's success lies in seamlessly merging meme culture with crypto speculation, with @GakMeUIT2218576 on X calling RATO the "official extension" of the Pepe brand, highlighting its cultural roots.
The Core of RATO and the Future of Meme Coins
What is the core of RATO? It is not only a new member of the Pepe family but also a symbol that carries the essence of meme culture. RATO's mouse image is lively and clever, inheriting Pepe's humor and rebellion while adding a touch of street wisdom. @BTC2Ai on X likened it to "Disney's Mickey Mouse," pointing out its universal meme appeal. RATO's narrative revolves around "Pepe's surfing partner," relying on Pepe's vast community while opening new territory with a new character. Its core is freedom and mockery — amidst the noise of the crypto market, RATO is a jest at traditional finance and a tribute to internet culture.
RATO's future depends on the continuation of its community and narrative. The Ethereum ecosystem provides fertile ground, with daily token trading volumes reaching $1.8 billion, and the Pectra upgrade and ETF craze adding fuel to its fire. If RATO can emulate $PEPE by solidifying its community through meme contests, NFT integrations, or cross-chain collaborations, it may hope to break the $100 million market cap. However, the meme coin market is fiercely competitive, with Solana's $TRUMP (market cap $14 billion) and Ethereum's Pepeto (which is seeing a hot presale) eyeing the prize. Within the family, FPPE's AI route is also diverting attention. RATO needs to find its unique voice under the halo of the Pepe family.
The Pepe family and RATO are microcosms of the meme coin world. They are not just tokens but carriers of stories and culture. The $PEPE's market cap of $4.6 billion, the tens of millions of market caps of $ANDY and $BRETT, and RATO's $26 million market cap together outline a dynasty woven from frogs, mice, and community enthusiasm. RATO's surfing journey has just begun; whether it becomes the next $PEPE or a fleeting wave, its story has already proven: the power of memes lies not only in price but in the mockery and sincerity that connect hearts. On the stage of the crypto world, the legends of frogs and mice continue to unfold.
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