Crypto Gloss

ApeCoin

ApeCoin (APE) is a fungible crypto-asset first issued as an ERC-20 token on Ethereum in March 2022. It is associated with the wider Yuga Labs ecosystem, but APE is a token, not a Bored Ape NFT or a share in Yuga Labs. ApeChain is a separate blockchain where APE is used as the native gas token. After the ApeCoin DAO was sunset through AIP-596 in June 2025, APE stopped granting holders voting rights in that DAO. Other uses depend on the applications that support the token.

Stat Value
Ticker APE
Price $0.14
Market Cap $140.66M
24h Change -6.5%
Circulating Supply 1.00B APE
Max Supply 1.00B APE
All-Time High $26.70
Contract (Ethereum) 0x4d22...4381
via ChangeNow · T&CsCoinGecko snapshot checked 2026-10-18 23:11 UTC; price, market cap and 24-hour change refresh automatically and may change. Not financial advice.

APE, ApeChain, and BAYC are different things

APE is the fungible token, with ticker APE and a fixed maximum supply of one billion. Its main Ethereum contract is shown in the CoinGecko-based table above. CoinGecko also lists deployments on other networks; a familiar ticker does not by itself prove that two contract addresses or bridged representations are interchangeable. Check the selected network and destination address before sending tokens.

ApeChain is a blockchain in the ApeCoin ecosystem, not another name for the APE token. Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), Mutant Ape Yacht Club, and other Yuga collections are NFTs, which are individually identified assets. Buying APE does not give someone a BAYC NFT, membership, ownership of Yuga Labs, or rights to a specific ape’s intellectual property.

Launch and original token allocation

ApeCoin launched in March 2022. The original maximum supply was set at one billion APE. The published launch allocation assigned 62% to an ecosystem fund, including 150 million APE distributed to BAYC and Mutant Ape Yacht Club holders; 16% to Yuga Labs and charity; 14% to launch contributors; and 8% to BAYC founders. These percentages describe the initial allocation, not the number of tokens currently available to trade. Portions of the allocation were subject to vesting, so the circulating supply changed over time.

The live market table reports CoinGecko’s current supply estimates separately from the fixed maximum. Market price, capitalization, and supply data can change, and none of those fields establishes how much demand the network or its apps will have.

The DAO governance model ended in 2025

At launch, ApeCoin was presented as both a utility token and the voting token of ApeCoin DAO. That description is now historical. In June 2025, AIP-596 approved a new operating model: the DAO’s previous governance process was sunset and operational control was transferred to ApeCo, a Yuga-aligned entity. OKX’s current crypto-asset disclosure states that APE no longer gives holders voting rights over proposals or the ecosystem treasury.

This change matters when evaluating APE. A wallet holding APE should not be assumed to have a current DAO vote or a claim on treasury assets. The token’s practical utility is now tied to supported applications, payments, and ApeChain transaction fees; the ecosystem’s administration is handled under its current operating structure.

ApeChain and APE’s network utility

ApeChain is an Arbitrum Orbit chain built for applications connected with the ApeCoin ecosystem. Its official developer documentation identifies APE as the chain’s native gas token, so users need APE to pay transaction fees there. APE can also be used by applications that choose to accept it, but an app’s support, terms, and availability can change independently of the token.

APE originated on Ethereum and has representations listed on several networks. Moving between networks may involve a bridge, a wrapped asset, an exchange withdrawal, or another network-specific process. APE on one network should not be sent to an address or service that expects APE on a different network.

Yuga Labs, BAYC, and Otherside

Yuga Labs’ overview of its collections and projects says BAYC launched in April 2021 and describes Otherside as a gamified virtual world that continues to evolve through demos, creator tools, and collaborative development. Yuga also says it helped launch ApeChain in 2024. These are the company’s own descriptions; they do not guarantee that a planned experience will ship on a particular schedule or attract lasting users.

APE is connected to this ecosystem, but it is important to separate association from entitlement. Holding the token does not automatically unlock every game, event, NFT, or service. Any specific access or payment use depends on the rules of the relevant application.

Risks and questions to keep separate

  • Governance: The former token-holder DAO vote is no longer an APE holder right under the post-AIP-596 model.
  • Adoption: A gas-token role creates a use for APE on ApeChain, but does not guarantee that people will use the chain or its applications.
  • Market risk: APE’s price can move sharply and may reflect NFT-market cycles, token supply, liquidity, and broader crypto conditions.
  • Network risk: Bridges, exchanges, wallets, smart contracts, and individual apps have separate technical and custody risks.
  • Rights: APE does not represent equity, dividends, a claim on the issuer’s assets, or ownership of a BAYC NFT.

These points help describe the token’s design and risks; they are not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold APE.

Social Media Sentiment

One r/apecoins discussion asking whether ApeCoin was still active contains comments expressing losses and skepticism, alongside a more speculative view that it might rebound. This is one self-selected thread, not a current poll or a representative measure of all holders; it shows the range of reactions in that discussion only.

Last updated: 2026-10

Related Terms

See Also

Sources