Kabosu, the Dog Behind Dogecoin is Dead

Kabosu, the Shiba Inu dog who serves as the signature image of Dogecoin and the “doge” meme, passed away peacefully on May 24. According to the owner, Atsuko Sato in her official blog post, there would be a farewell party at Flower Kaori in Kotsu no Mori, Narita City on May 26.

Impact of Kabosu on the Crypto Community 

She expressed her gratitude for the love and care shown to Kabosu over the years. Kabosu’s followers and the entire crypto community also expressed their condolences via tributes and sharing memories of the internet legend.

Kabosu’s impact extended beyond just humor. Her story also highlighted the importance of pet adoption and animal rescue, as her own life was saved through such a program. Furthermore, Sato often used Kabosu’s fame to advocate for animal welfare, inspiring many to consider adopting pets from shelters.

Despite being gone, her legacy as the face of the Doge meme will forever be remembered as a symbol of joy and the power of the internet to connect and entertain people worldwide.

Kabosu Reportedly Suffered From an Ailment

Recall that in December 2022, Atsuko on her Instagram page said Kabosu was in a dangerous situation. She also assured her followers that the Inu is getting power worldwide from supporters and will be fine.

The announcement sparked an outflow of supportive comments, with a well-wisher offering to cover any expenses needed to ensure she gets the best treatment. Although Atsuko did not specify the medical issues Kabosu was dealing with, she encouraged followers to hive love, prayers, and good vibes to herself and Kabosu.

Notably, Shiba Inu dogs have an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years, while Kabosu was 17 years when he passed on.

Kabosu Inspired Dogecoin Creators

In 2010, an image of Kabosu from Atsuko Sato’s blog inspired the viral “doge” meme design. Eventually, the meme’s popularity prompted Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer in 2013 to create what is widely regarded as the first “meme coin,” Dogecoin.

Despite being launched as a joke, Dogecoin is still extremely popular in the cryptocurrency world almost ten years later. DOGE’s popularity skyrocketed after Elon Musk, the American entrepreneur who founded PayPal, Tesla, and SpaceX, actively supported the memecoin over BTC. 

Meanwhile, Elon Musk had proposed Dogecoin as a payment method for Twitter Blue subscribers long before he owned Twitter.