Dogecoin was launched as a cryptocurrency in 2013.
Software engineers Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer created Dogecoin as a light-hearted alternative to the rapidly expanding group of cryptocurrencies inspired by Bitcoin. The project used the Shiba Inu from the “Doge” internet meme as its logo and mascot, helping it stand out from more technical or finance-focused digital currencies.
Dogecoin’s software was based on Litecoin, which itself was derived from Bitcoin’s code. Unlike Bitcoin’s fixed maximum supply, Dogecoin was designed with an inflationary issuance model. New dogecoins continue to enter circulation through block rewards, although the reward schedule and network rules have changed over time.
Dogecoin is often confused with the Doge meme itself, but they are separate: Doge is an internet-meme character and Dogecoin is a blockchain-based cryptocurrency. The coin later became associated with online tipping, charitable fundraising, and high-profile social-media attention, but its launch occurred in 2013.