My approach is to understand the basics before trying something new.

Dogecoin (DOGE) is often considered the first “meme coin.” It didn’t start with a grand technological vision, but as a joke between two engineers—and it has been running for more than a decade.

$DOGE Dogecoin was created by two engineers in 2013. Current price: 0.07932 (24h -1.67%).

📌 Two founders

Dogecoin was co-created by IBM software engineer Billy Markus and Adobe software engineer Jackson Palmer, and launched on December 6, 2013.

At the time, there was a strong speculative frenzy around cryptocurrencies. The two created Dogecoin initially to poke fun at the craze. Its code was based on existing cryptocurrencies such as Luckycoin and Litecoin, and its logo features the face of Kabosu, the Shiba Inu from the “Doge” meme.

📌 A welcoming early community

What made Dogecoin famous early on wasn’t its price, but its community: people used it to tip content they liked online with small amounts, and came together to support charitable causes.

In 2014, the community raised funds to help the Jamaican bobsled team, which couldn’t afford the travel costs, compete in the Sochi Winter Olympics. That same year, they also raised about 67.8 million Dogecoin to sponsor NASCAR driver Josh Wise.

📌 Supply and what came later

Dogecoin has no hard cap on its total supply, with about 5 billion new coins added each year. This is completely different from Bitcoin’s fixed-supply design.

Jackson Palmer left the cryptocurrency community in 2015. After the founders left, Dogecoin continued to operate with the support of its community and developers, while its price became increasingly driven by market sentiment.

📌 A note before you get involved

Being established doesn’t mean being low-risk. Dogecoin’s price is driven largely by sentiment and hype; a single comment from a celebrity can trigger sharp rises or falls. Manage your position as you would a highly volatile asset.

Before transferring, make sure you’re using Dogecoin’s native network and not a wrapped token on another blockchain. There are many scams online impersonating the founder and promising to “give away coins”—don’t trust anyone who asks you to send money first.

📌 In closing

Dogecoin’s story shows that community and culture can keep a project going for many years. But its value comes from consensus, and can fluctuate as that consensus changes. Don’t get involved in anything you don’t understand; it’s safer to start with a small amount and learn.

Did you know this already?