NEW DELHI: Kabosu, the beloved Shiba Inu who became an internet sensation as the Doge meme, has passed away. Kabosu’s owner, Atsuko Sato, announced the sad news, stating that Kabosu “fell into a deep sleep” at 7:50 am on May 24. A farewell party is scheduled for Sunday at Flower Kaori in Kotsu no Mori, Narita City, from 1 pm to 4 pm.
Kabosu’s fame began in 2010 when pictures of her went viral online, leading to the creation of the Doge meme.The meme’s popularity skyrocketed and even inspired the creation of Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency launched in 2013 using Kabosu’s image as its logo. Initially conceived as a joke, Dogecoin’s success spurred the creation of several other dog-themed cryptocurrencies.
In April last year, Elon Musk briefly changed Twitter’s logo to an image of Kabosu, causing a surge in Dogecoin’s value. Musk has been an outspoken supporter of the meme-based cryptocurrency.
Kabosu had been diagnosed with cholangiohepatitis and chronic lymphoma leukemia in 2022. Her passing marks the end of an era for meme enthusiasts and the cryptocurrency community.