Kabosu, the Japanese Shiba Inu dog that became famous as the “Doge” meme and inspired the $23-billion Dogecoin cryptocurrency, died on Friday at the age of 18. Her owner, Atsuko Sato, confirmed that Kabosu had been suffering from leukemia and liver disease.
Kabosu became an internet sensation over a decade ago when Sato posted a photo of her in 2010. The image, showing Kabosu’s distinctive side-eyed look, quickly spread across social media and inspired the popular Doge meme.
In 2013, the Doge meme led to the creation of Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency that started as a joke but grew to have a market value of $23 billion at its peak. Endorsements from celebrities like Elon Musk helped boost its popularity.
Kabosu was a rescue dog, adopted by Sato from a puppy mill. Although her exact birthdate was unknown, she was estimated to be 18 years old.
