PEPE Fans Send #DeleteCoinbase Trending After ‘Hate Symbol’ Newsletter

This isn’t the first time #DeleteCoinbase has trended on Twitter

article-image

Ezume Images/Shutterstock modified by Blockworks

share

Supporters of memecoin pepe are taking to Twitter to once again say “delete Coinbase.” The crypto exchange recently sent out a newsletter labeling the Pepe the Frog meme, which PEPE invokes, a “hate symbol” co-opted by far-right groups.

With over 70,000 tweets containing the hashtag #DeleteCoinbase, it’s safe to say that its newsletter sparked not just a conversation, but a revolt. 

In the email, Coinbase cited the Anti-Defamation League’s view on Pepe the Frog as an internet symbol.

Read more: Pepe’s Pump Has Memecoin Fans Excited — But Red Flags Abound

“The [PEPE] token is based on the Pepe the Frog meme, which first surfaced on the internet nearly 20 years ago as a comic-strip character. Over time it has been co-opted as a hate symbol by alt-right groups, according to the Anti-Defamation League,” Coinbase wrote. 

Twitter users were quick to point out that Coinbase wasn’t necessarily representing the entirety of the ADL’s views on the Pepe the Frog meme. 

Jason Cline, a creator on Instagram and TikTok, retweeted a screenshot of the ADL’s blog post on Pepe the Frog, where the organization is quoted as saying, “The majority of uses of Pepe the Frog have been, and continue to be, non-bigoted.”

Loading Tweet..

There were a fair number of users who weren’t just saying delete Coinbase, but upped the ante by claiming they’d close their accounts. One tweeter claimed they’re selling all their Coinbase shares and moving their assets onto Gemini.

#DeleteCoinbase trended in 2019 when they acquired Italy-based analytics startup Neutrino. Executives of that company were involved with the controversial surveillance unit Hacking Team which sold intrusion and surveillance capabilities to oppressive governments. 

Coinbase later said it fired team members previously associated with Hacking Team.

Coinbase also made waves in 2020 when CEO Brian Armstrong urged staff to adopt a corporate policy of political neutrality to avoid discussing social justice issues in the office.

Blockworks reached out to Coinbase, which responded by pointing out the disclaimer at the bottom of the newsletter that said views expressed by the author are not necessarily shared by Coinbase or its employees.


Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:

Tags

Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily, with Byron Gilliam.

Upcoming Events

Old Billingsgate

Mon - Wed, October 13 - 15, 2025

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

recent research

Research Report Templates (3).png

Research

Pear Protocol has proven its market fit through its pair-trading infrastructure, sustaining consistent trading activity despite recent headwinds. Its strategic pivot toward Hyperliquid integration represents a major growth catalyst amid industry consolidation. While short-term token unlocks present challenges, current valuations and liquidity conditions may offer compelling opportunities for investors.

article-image

Polymarket is set to re-enter the US market after buying derivatives exchange QCEX

article-image

Paradigm’s Alexander Grieve and Jito Labs CLO Rebecca Rettig broke down the GENIUS bill on the Empire podcast

article-image

The new system is “basically decentralizing ourselves,” Jito Labs CEO Lucas Bruder said

article-image

Markets are all-in on optimism — is that a forecast or a delusion?

article-image

The all-cash deal will push Sanctum beyond liquid staking tokens

article-image

The stablecoin-focused bill is set to have a profound effect on dollar dominance and the demand for US debt, a senior Treasury official says