Beware of Fake Rares: They’re Coming to ORBital!

In the dynamic world of NFTs, few collections have left a mark as significant as the Rare Pepes collection. Even though the original Rare Pepe collection has officially closed, Pepe the Frog lives on…

WhileRare Pepes, Fake Rares, and Fake Commons all share their unique perspective on digital art and meme culture, each has its own identity.

Rare Pepes: The Pioneers of Meme NFTs

Launched between 2016 and 2018, the Rare Pepe collection is a historic NFT series of about 1770 unique cards, each featuring an original interpretation inspired by the iconic Pepe the Frog meme. With over 300 artists, whose submissions were curated and approved by the "Rare Pepe scientists”, Rare Pepes represent one of the earliest decentralized community art projects in the NFT space.

Fake Rares: The Evolution of Pepe Art

By 2018, the Rare Pepe scientists had retired, leaving a thriving community of Rare Pepe artists abandoned to themselves.

Many artworks had been rejected from the original collection for various reasons, leading to a new movement. As stated in the Fake Rare Directory: “...any asset that is created on XCP and not approved by the Rare Pepe scientists is considered a fake rare… past, present and future”.

Artist Rare Scrilla, known for his prolific work in the Rare Pepe space (and for his trolling tendencies), deliberately posted a fake rare in the official Rare Pepe Telegram group, breaking the rules and earning himself a ban. In response, he created BEWARE OF FAKE RARES, a “safe space” for rejected submissions. His infamous “proof of ban” card became the foundation of the Fake Rares community.

Fake Commons: Democratizing the Meme Culture

Fake Commons, a subseries within the Fake Rares ecosystem, embrace full creative freedom, allowing for a more inclusive and expansive exploration of meme culture, encouraging artists to freely contribute.

In essence, while Rare Pepes laid the groundwork for meme-based NFTs, Fake Rares and Fake Commons have expanded upon this foundation, offering varied levels of curation and accessibility to artists and collectors alike.

Discover Fake Rares, Fake Commons and Rare Pepes on ORBital!