Welcome to "Behind the Meme," a series exploring the cultural forces shaping Web3. Today, we are diving into the world of $ZEUS, a meme coin that has captured attention not just for its humor, but for its unique connection to internet history. We are speaking with Jon “Jagged” Eyrick, a key figure behind this project that is turning a beloved meme into a community-driven phenomenon. $ZEUS Ishan Pandey: Hi Jagged, it's a pleasure to have you on "Behind the Meme." Can you share the origin story of $ZEUS? How did the idea of creating a token around Pepe's dog, with the backing of the original artist ND Haus and the dog's owner, come about? Ishan Pandey: Jagged: Thanks, it’s a pleasure to be here. The origin of $ZEUS is very personal for me because Zeus is my dog. Zeus was born back in 2012 and eventually found his way into meme culture, especially the Pepe art scene where he became a viral sensation. I was among the top supporters of Pepe and meme art in the early days of NFTs, and that love for the culture led to more artists including Zeus into their NFT meme creations. In 2022, ND Haus created the original character artwork of Zeus, bringing his personality to life and earning him the title of “Pepe’s dog” and started being included into most new Pepe art and Matt Furie fan art. I have since granted the rights of Zeus’ character and trademark over to the $ZEUS project to lead the way for a new wave of memecoins where the real dog, the real artist, and the real story meet and create memetic legacy. Jagged: Among the first initiatives was to launch a charity campaign supporting dog shelters globally which you can support and follow here: https://zeusfoundation.org/. https://zeusfoundation.org/ Ishan Pandey: $ZEUS distinguishes itself by having the original Zeus artist, ND Haus, and the dog's owner as part of the core team. How does this direct involvement influence the project's direction, its artistic integrity, and its connection with the community? Ishan Pandey: Jagged: The $ZEUS token launched in May 2025, a fair launch with no insiders and no VC investors, supported by a vibrant community united by the love of memes. Everything about $ZEUS is community first which is how it always should be. By June they acquired the trademark and intellectual property rights which is something no other meme project claiming ties to Furie’s universe has done. That’s when it became clear: this was about more than just memes. NDHaus is leading a team of artists to help realize her creative vision and will direct the upcoming not-for-profit Artist DAO to support meme-native and Web3 artists. We have a lot of fun, with a core team of 50+ community members making decisions on the next steps for the project together. Voting for activities such as charity, artist DAO, merch, events and a statue of Zeus going up in his hometown. Jagged: Ishan Pandey: The $ZEUS smart contract ends in #CC8, a nod to community-driven meme coins. How does this "community-first" approach manifest in the project's governance, development, and overall ethos? Ishan Pandey: Jagged: Absolutely, for us #CC8 isn’t just a meme reference, it’s a statement. From day one, $ZEUS was built with a community-first mindset. The smart contract wasn’t handed to VCs or insiders. No presale, no bundles, no backroom allocations. Just a fair launch for the people who actually make memecoins matter: the community. In terms of governance, we actively involve our holders in shaping the project’s direction: whether it's deciding which shelters to support through the Zeus Foundation, voting on merch designs, or helping select artists for the upcoming Artist DAO residency program. Jagged: On the development side, we have a core team who stay transparent, and responsive to the core community. One of the core things I have insisted on is that we keep pushing real-world value too by supporting shelters, building a statue of Zeus, and in the future flying out community members to meet the dog himself. The ethos of $ZEUS is community-first, authentic, transparent, meme-native, and a bit cheeky, just like my dog. I might also add he’s sassy, fun, loyal, cheeky, and full of attitude! Ishan Pandey: Unlike other meme coins, $ZEUS secured the original Zeus NFT. Why was acquiring and securing the original Zeus NFT so crucial for the project, and how does it cement the artistic and legal ownership? Ishan Pandey: Jagged: In the world of meme coins, most projects are built on vibes, not rights. $ZEUS redefined this standard by first partnering with the original artist but also acquiring the original Zeus artwork by ND Haus, the first artist to ever draw him. That piece isn’t just art, it’s the visual origin of Zeus in meme culture. Owning that NFT means owning the creative DNA of the character. Jagged: From a legal standpoint, it gave us a clear, verifiable chain of IP ownership on-chain and off. There’s no ambiguity, the project $ZEUS #CC8 is not "inspired by" or "based on" a character, it’s the real thing, tied directly to the actual dog (whom I own), the original artist (who’s on the team), and now the project that honors both. From an artistic perspective, it cements credibility. We’re not remixing someone else’s meme, we are building from the source. This isn't just about protecting ourselves legally, it’s about protecting the story, the culture, and the community that built meme art from the ground up. Ishan Pandey: Can you elaborate on the upcoming dog charity campaign and the statue of Zeus in Macedonia? How do these initiatives reflect the project's values and contribute to its broader narrative beyond just being a meme coin? Ishan Pandey: Jagged: The upcoming dog charity campaign is a direct reflection of our commitment to real-world impact and cultural legacy. While most meme coins stop at hype, we are focused on building something that lasts on-chain and off. The Zeus Foundation, backed by $ZEUS, was created to support shelters, rescues, and dogs in need around the world. We have already made donations to shelters like K9 Dog Shelter, Pati Mutluluk, Patipark Ankara, and more. We are helping fund food, medical care, shelter upgrades, and even supporting a disabled dog named Amber. So far we have impacted 1000+ dogs and keep reaching out to shelters daily through our team dedicated to support the Foundation. These efforts aren’t just symbolic, they are tangible proof that meme culture can fuel real good. Jagged: Ishan Pandey: What are the future plans for $ZEUS, including the lore-based dApp, merch, and the Artist DAO led by ND Haus? How do you envision these developments expanding the $ZEUS ecosystem and fostering a deeper connection with the community? Ishan Pandey: Jagged: The future of $ZEUS is all about building a rich, community-driven ecosystem rooted in Zeus’s unique story. We are launching a lore-based comic NFT series to deepen engagement. We will also be dropping merch including matching dog gear! The proceeds from $ZEUS help support dog shelters worldwide through Zeus Foundation. The upcoming Artist DAO led by ND Haus aims to empower underground meme artists. All these initiatives expand $ZEUS beyond a meme coin into a cultural movement that connects art, charity, and real-world experiences. Jagged: Ishan Pandey: What's your response to projects like Cabal Zeus, and how does $ZEUS differentiate itself in terms of authenticity, community focus, and long-term vision? Ishan Pandey: Jagged: No IP, no brand, no authorization. Whilst the Cabal Zeus focused on maximizing short-term profit and pumping their chart they were operating in bad faith, using stolen artwork without crediting the creators, and not prioritizing community building. Their strategy was to send out huge token allocations to KOLs in the space, resulting in massive selloffs as these bad actors dumped their tokens onto the community. You can see the evidence of this in the project’s chart for reference. In contrast to their strategy, which lacked focus on the narrative, we focused on the exact opposite by bringing on ND Haus (the original Zeus artist) and cultivating the narrative of Zeus, bringing it to life. I strongly believe this is the only way memes can be sustainable in the long term and achieve maximum price action. Jagged: Don’t forget to like and share the story! Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYO Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYO Vested Interest Disclosure: Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYO business blogging program business blogging program

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HackerNoon

The Divine Rise of $ZEUS: How Pepe's Dog is Setting a New Standard for Meme Coins

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