On May 24, the Shiba Inu named Kabosu, known as the face of the meme and symbol of the cryptocurrency Dogecoin, passed away. The news was shared by the dog’s owner, Atsuko Sato.
かぼちゃんは今朝、
深い眠りにつきました?
私に撫でられながら
眠るように
そっと逝きました。
かぼちゃんを愛して下さったみなさん、
長い間ありがとうございました。https://t.co/aJyC8wECQP— かぼすママ (@kabosumama) May 24, 2024
The owner expressed deep gratitude for the love and support shown to Kabosu over the years. The dog would have turned 19 in November (estimated birth year is 2005).
The crypto community and Shiba Inu fans expressed their condolences.
Rest in Peace, Doge ? pic.twitter.com/odgzw7Nnfj
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) May 24, 2024
The official X account of Dogecoin posted about the impact “this dog has made across the world.”
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…
— Dogecoin (@dogecoin) May 24, 2024
“Please keep her spirit and her family in your heart and, most importantly, cherish her as your story continues — we are all fortunate that she touched our lives and shaped its image,” the message reads.
According to Sato, a memorial ceremony for Kabosu will be held on May 26 at Flower Kaori in Kotsu-no Mori (Narita City, Japan).
Kabosu first gained attention in 2010 when Sato posted photos of the dog on her blog. One image of the Shiba Inu went viral:
It was Kabosu who inspired Markus and Jackson Palmer to create the meme cryptocurrency Dogecoin in 2013. In 2018, Vitalik Buterin visited the dog’s owner in Tokyo.
Vitalik Buterin met Kabosu (original shibe from the doge meme) this week and took her for a walk! https://t.co/tTDbjjh8Qg pic.twitter.com/P0nkXWHDDd
— MyDoge.eu (@MyDogeEU) April 7, 2018
In February 2023, PleasrDAO auctioned off the couch from the original Doge meme to raise funds for the humanitarian organization Save the Children. It was sold for 21 ETH (less than $35,000 at the time of the transaction).
A month later, the NFT community Own the Doge announced a giveaway for a trip to Japan to meet Kabosu.