What is it about Shiba Inu dogs that has enthralled digital asset enthusiasts? While cryptocurrency meme coins come in all shapes and sizes, one cannot deny the Japanese hunting dog’s domination in this corner of the crypto market.
Is it because Shiba Inu dog-themed coins simply perform better than other animal memes (looking at you, PEPE), or does the coincidence run deeper?
Why is the Shiba Inu breed the internet’s favorite and why is the crypto community obsessed with them?
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What is a Shiba Inu Dog?
Hailing from Japan, the Shiba Inu is a delightful breed of pooch that is growing in popularity worldwide. Known for their energetic personalities, tan-colored fur, and foxy build, Shiba Inu’s have captured the hearts of the crypto community and the internet.
Of course, Shiba Inu dogs aren’t the world’s only widely-loved breed. Golden retrievers, border collies, and beagles, to name a few, are all typically good-natured dogs that have delighted owners for generations.
What makes Shibas such a big part of internet culture?
Why Are Shiba Inu Dogs So Popular on the Internet?
On a very ordinary day in 2008, Atsuko Sato rescued a previously abandoned Shiba Inu dog named Kabosu from a local animal shelter. Like most pet owners, Sato was smitten by her new companion, taking dozens of pictures of Kabosu and sharing them online.
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Having originally shared pictures of Kabosu on her own blog, the pup’s portraits delighted thousands of internet users worldwide. The images found their way to Reddit, where Kabosu’s notoriety skyrocketed.
The internet did what the internet does, turning candid pictures of a simple Shiba Inu dog into an iconic meme. By 2023, Kabosu’s face was everywhere, surrounded by humorous taglines in flawed grammar and colorful comic sans captions.
It seemed ridiculous, but the impact of the Doge meme was only just getting started.
How Shiba Inu Dogs Become Crypto-Famous
While Kabosu and the Doge meme took the web by storm, another internet phenomenon gained traction. Bitcoin (BTC), the world’s first cryptocurrency, was making waves across the planet, promising to reinvent the financial landscape and give people greater control over their assets forever.
Bitcoin’s early volatility was the stuff of legends, with dizzying euphoric peaks and debilitating troughs that made today’s price action look like riding a lawn mower in a suburban backyard. Despite being considered nothing more than magic internet money at the time, Bitcoin fever had the world in its grip.
Seeking to take the edge off the drama, a pair of software developers decided to create a joke cryptocurrency in the image of Kabosu. Seeking to make light of the seriousness surrounding what was essentially imaginary money, Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer created Dogecoin (DOGE).
The first ever cryptocurrency meme coin was born.
Since then, Dogecoin has inspired hundreds of copycats and derivatives, piggybacking off the original meme coin’s notoriety. Adding to the mania, crypto idol and tech billionaire Elon Musk also owns a Shiba Inu, making the breed even more celebrated in the eyes of crypto enthusiasts.
Top Cryptocurrencies Inspired by Shiba Inu Dogs
Dogecoin may have been the first, but the Japanese hunting fog has inspired hundreds of meme coins across dozens of blockchains.
1. Dogecoin (DOGE)
Dogecoin, the crypto market’s largest and most recognizable meme coin, bears Kabosu’s image proudly on its logo. Launched in 2013, Dogecoin is an entire blockchain capable of transferring digital assets directly between wallets within seconds.
2. Shiba Inu (SHIB)
You don’t have to search far to find its name and inspiration. Shiba Inu is the second largest meme coin in the crypto market. Originally considered nothing more than a shallow Dogecoin imitator, Shiba Inu coin has worked hard to throw off its copycat reputation, building out a diverse range of products and services.
Shiba Inu coin was originally launched on the Ethereum Blockchain in 2020. The coin has enjoyed a marvelous success story and now operates its very own Ethereum (ETH) scaling solution, decentralized exchange, and Shiboshi NFT collection.
3. Bonk (BONK)
While Bonk coin may not explicitly say that its mascot is a Shiba Inu dog, the resemblance is sufficiently strong to say that the Japanese breed also inspired Bonk.
Launched on the Solana blockchain on Christmas Day 2022, Bonk is a community-led token that was airdropped to thousands of Solana wallets as an unexpected gift. The meme coin enjoyed a meteoric surge throughout 2023, becoming a key pillar in the Solana ecosystem.
4. Floki (FLOKI)
The final Shiba Inu-inspired cryptocurrency meme coin worth mentioning is none other than Floki. Launched on the Binance Smart Chain in June 2021, Floki is named after Elon Musk’s Shiba Inu dog and a popular character from the History Channel’s hit series, Vikings.
While not achieving the same levels of popularity enjoyed by DOGE, SHIB, and BONK, Floki has still managed to foster a passionate and loyal community of followers. The crypto project has completed a cross-chain migration and is now available on Ethereum and the BNB Chain.
On the Flipside
- The crypto market has dozens of additional Shiba Inu dog-themed meme coins. However, most have been unable to stand the test of time and have been abandoned.
Why This Matters
The Shiba Inu dog has been woven into internet culture and the blockchain industry. Knowing the mysterious origins of the connection between the dog breed and the crypto world may not be a game-changer for your investment strategy. However, it’s still fun trivia when confused friends and family inevitably ask why crypto dogs are so popular.
FAQs
Kabosu, the dog behind the iconic ‘doge’ meme, is a shiba inu. The Shiba Inu dog breed inspired Dogecoin, which became the world’s first meme coin and set the trend.
You can buy popular crypto meme coins on top cryptocurrency exchanges like Binance, Coinbase, and Kucoin.
