Dogecoin cofounder says 50% of dogs he sees in Japan are Shiba Inu

Nov 8, 2026 15:00 (12h ago)

Billy Markus said about half the dogs he saw in Japan were Shiba Inu.
About 50% of Markus’s observed dogs in Japan were identified as Shiba Inu.
Dogecoin launched in 2013 and used a meme featuring the Shiba Inu Kabosu.

Dogecoin cofounder Billy Markus said on X that about 50% of the dogs he saw in Japan were Shiba Inu, highlighting the breed’s prominence in the country and its connection to Dogecoin’s origins. Markus, who uses the handle Shibetoshi Nakamoto, made the observation on November 8, 2026, while discussing his experience in Japan. Dogecoin launched on December 6, 2013, drawing on the Doge meme featuring Kabosu, a Japanese Shiba Inu photographed by Atsuko Satō in 2010. The meme helped establish a broader dog-themed cryptocurrency trend that later included Shiba Inu (SHIB). Dogecoin is now the 12th-largest cryptocurrency, with a market capitalization of $11.17 billion, according to CoinMarketCap data. Kabosu died in May 2024 after 14 years of internet fame.