The Dog Who Inspired Dogecoin Has Died
Kabosu, the Shiba Inu who became the face of the viral “doge” meme and the inspiration for the cryptocurrency Dogecoin, has passed away at the age of 18. Her owner, Atsuko Sato, announced her death on Friday.
Kabosu, who lived in Sakura, Japan, peacefully “fell into a deep sleep” on a serene Friday morning, Sato wrote in a heartfelt blog post. “Outside the window, birds were singing on a beautiful morning. As I was touching her, she gently passed away,” shared Sato, a kindergarten teacher. “I think she was the happiest dog in the world.”
Kabosu’s journey to internet stardom began in 2010 when a photo of her with folded paws and a curious expression went viral on forums like Reddit. This image sparked the “doge” meme phenomenon, characterized by intentional misspellings and humorous captions. Her face soon became an internet staple, photoshopped onto various images from pastries to landmarks.
The meme’s popularity skyrocketed in December 2013 when Kabosu’s image was adopted as the logo for Dogecoin, a satirical cryptocurrency modeled after Bitcoin. This move cemented her status in digital culture and led to the creation of other meme-based cryptocurrencies, such as Shiba Inu coin.
Dogecoin garnered significant attention from high-profile figures, including Elon Musk, who in May 2021 polled his Twitter followers about accepting Dogecoin as payment for Tesla. In April of that year, a surge in Dogecoin trading even temporarily disrupted the Robinhood trading platform.
Following Kabosu’s passing, the Dogecoin community expressed their grief and admiration. “The impact this one dog has made across the world is immeasurable,” read a post on the Dogecoin Twitter account.
In 2022, Sato revealed via Instagram that Kabosu was battling leukemia and liver disease. To honor Kabosu’s memory, Sato plans to hold a “farewell gathering” on Sunday.
Kabosu’s legacy as the “happiest dog in the world” and a beloved internet icon will undoubtedly live on, touching the hearts of millions who found joy in her memes and the digital currency she inspired.
