Dogecoin announced through its X account the passing of Kabosu, the Shiba Inu who became the face of the cryptocurrency. Kabosu passed away peacefully on the morning of May 24th at 7:50 am, surrounded by love and comfort.

"Today Kabosu, our community’s shared friend and inspiration, peacefully passed in the arms of her person. The impact this one dog has made across the world is immeasurable. She was a being who knew only happiness and limitless love. Please keep her spirit and her family in your heart, and most importantly carry her with you as your story continues – we are all fortunate for hers to have touched and shaped ours. Thank you, Pumpkin!” read the heartfelt post.

Dogecoin’s Beloved Shiba Inu Dies at Age 17

Kabosu, a Shiba Inu, gained internet fame for her distinctive, alert expression captured in a photograph by her owner. This image became the iconic face of Dogecoin, symbolizing the playful nature of the digital currency initially created as a joke.

Kabosu’s image played a key role in Dogecoin’s meme-driven rise, establishing it as a significant player in the cryptocurrency community. The official blog post from Dogecoin recounts Kabosu’s peaceful last moments:

“Last night as usual, [Kabosu] ate rice and drank plenty of water too. From the window, the soft light shone in, outside the window the birds sang on a beautiful morning, while I stroked her like she was sleeping, she passed away quietly.”

The blog also highlighted the deep bond between Kabosu and her owner, who expressed profound gratitude towards everyone who cherished Kabosu: “For a long time, Kabosu was loved by all of you, and for that, I am really thankful. Kabosu was the happiest dog in the world, and I was the happiest owner. She is still now, smiling and wagging her tail, staying close to me.”

Kabosu was adopted by Japanese kindergarten teacher Atsuko Sato from a pet shelter in 2008, after being rescued from a puppy mill. Her serene and slightly amused expression in a 2010 photograph posted online caught the attention of netizens, leading to widespread meme circulation.

The meme's popularity inspired the creation of Dogecoin in December 2013. Founders Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer chose Kabosu’s image as the logo for their cryptocurrency to reflect its fun and friendly ethos, in contrast to the more serious tone of other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

Dogecoin has since experienced significant growth in both value and community, with Kabosu’s image symbolizing the whimsy and unexpected success of the digital currency.

The Dogecoin community has expressed widespread condolences. Sato announced a farewell party: “We will be holding a farewell party for Kabo-chan on Sunday, May 26th. It will be held at Flower Kaori in Kotsu no Mori, Narita City, from 1 pm to 4 pm.”

At press time, DOGE traded at $0.1585