Buy ApeCoin

ApeCoin (APE) is a cryptocurrency built around the Bored Ape Yacht Club and the wider ecosystem created by Yuga Labs. It is used within that ecosystem and is one of the better-known tokens linked to NFTs and Web3 culture.

ApeCoin is closely associated with the Bored Ape Yacht Club, a famous collection of NFTs, but the two are not the same thing. The Bored Ape Yacht Club is a collection of digital collectibles, while ApeCoin is a separate token built on Ethereum that can be used across the ecosystem and held or traded like other cryptocurrencies.

ApeCoin was designed to support a community and ecosystem rather than to power its own blockchain. It has been used for things like governance, access to events and experiences, and as a currency within games and other Web3 projects connected to the ecosystem.

What is ApeCoin used for?

ApeCoin is mainly used within the Bored Ape Yacht Club and Yuga Labs ecosystem. APE is the token used to access and transact across that ecosystem.

APE is used to:

• access certain events, experiences and content within the ecosystem
• act as a currency in games and Web3 projects that support it
• be held and traded as a token on Ethereum

ApeCoin has also historically been used for governance, letting holders vote on decisions about the ecosystem. ApeCoin has a fixed maximum supply of 1 billion tokens, all created when it launched. It is not mined, and like many tokens linked to NFTs and online communities, APE can be highly volatile, with its value influenced by interest in the ecosystem and wider market conditions.

The history of ApeCoin

ApeCoin launched in March 2022 to support the ecosystem around the Bored Ape Yacht Club, which was created by Yuga Labs. A large portion of the supply was distributed through an airdrop to existing Bored Ape Yacht Club and related NFT holders.

At launch, ApeCoin was governed by the ApeCoin DAO, a community organisation that let APE holders vote on proposals. In 2025, the community voted to wind down the ApeCoin DAO and move toward a new structure called ApeCo, led by Yuga Labs, to manage and grow the ecosystem. You can find out more on the official ApeCoin website.

Since launching, ApeCoin has become one of the most recognisable tokens tied to NFTs and Web3 culture. People buy APE for many reasons, including using it within the ecosystem or gaining exposure to the Bored Ape Yacht Club and Yuga Labs projects.