Kabosu, doge meme icon and dogecoin mascot, dies at 18

Last updated: May 24, 2024 6:34 pm EDT | 2 minute read

Communities on the web are pausing to reflect on the life of Kabosu, the dog behind the Doge meme and the Dogecoin mascot, who passed away at 5pm on May 25th.

The owner of Kabosu, Atsuko Sato, announced the news in a post on his official blogexpressing her deep gratitude for the love and support shown to her over the years.

The death came following the announcement that Kabosu was in a “dangerous position” from a health perspective in 2022. However, Sata expressed his desire to die peacefully, without suffering.

“A soft light came in through the window, in the midst of the beautiful morning where the birds are singing, she went out softly, as if falling asleep, while being caressed by me,” he said.

Sato also announced a farewell meeting in honor of “Kabo-chan”, scheduled for May 26 at Flower Kaori in Kotsu no Mori, Narita City.

The news reverberated across the Internet, uniting pop culture, meme culture and crypto culture to remember the loss. Kabosu has undoubtedly left its mark on the history of the Internet.

The history of the Doge: from the meme, to the cryptocurrencies, to the legend

Kabosu first gained attention in 2010, when Sato shared photos of his adopted dog on his blog. One particular image of Kabosu, which captures her skeptical and curious expression, quickly went viral and gave rise to the “Doge” meme phenomenon.

This single image, accompanied by sentences in broken English, became the cornerstone of the first meme culture.

In 2013, the popularity of the seminal meme increased Dogemoneta was created, using Kabosu’s image as the official logo.

Despite initially being intended as a joke, Dogecoin has become a popular cryptocurrency. He became responsible for numerous charitable initiatives, including clean water projects and funding for the Jamaican bobsleigh team.

This has also normalized meme coins in the crypto space, resulting in the rise of some of them most popular meme coins. Many of these coins have adopted the Shiba Inu as their mascot, paying homage to the original meme that sparked the trend.

The original The image of the Doge was also minted as an NFT in 2023. It was sold for 1,696 ETH, worth $4 million.

Since it was sold, the NFT has been divided into billions of smaller, tradable units for fractional ownership.

His influence extends to political campaigns. For example, the president of the United States Joe Biden’s reelection campaign announced the hiring of a “meme master” on May 23.

The crypto community commemorates Kabo

The crypto community and Kabosu fans expressed their condolences, sharing tributes and favorite memories of the dog who became an Internet legend.

Official token Shiba Inu, a competitor to Dogecoin, tweeted a heartfelt tribute highlighting Kabosu’s impact on cryptocurrencies.

When news of his ill health broke, Dogecoin co-creator Billy Markus asked his followers to send support. Its call to action led one user to offer to cover “all expenses necessary to ensure you receive the best treatment.”

Kabosu’s legacy as the face of crypto culture will continue to symbolize community spirit and inspire future generations of meme enthusiasts.

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