Shiba Inu (SHIB), launched in August 2020, is an Ethereum-based memecoin inspired by Dogecoin and the Shiba Inu dog breed. Created as a decentralized, community-driven token, SHIB has evolved into an ecosystem with DeFi, NFTs, and a layer-2 solution called Shibarium.

Key Features

  • Shibarium Layer-2: A layer-2 blockchain on Ethereum, launched in 2023, offering low-cost transactions and hosting dApps (~1.2M wallets, $10M TVL).
  • Ecosystem Tokens: Includes SHIB (main token), LEASH (limited supply), and BONE (governance for Shibarium).
  • Community Engagement: Over 1.4M Twitter followers and 500K+ community members drive adoption via social campaigns.
  • Ecosystem: Trades on 200+ exchanges (e.g., Binance, Coinbase) and supports wallets like MetaMask and Trust Wallet.

SHIB Token

  • Purpose: Used for payments, staking, DeFi, and governance in Shibarium.
  • Supply: ~589T SHIB in circulation, with an initial supply of 1 quadrillion (50% burned to Vitalik Buterin’s wallet, 50% in Uniswap liquidity).
  • Contract Address: On Ethereum, SHIB’s contract is 0x95ad61b0a150d79219dcf64e1e6cc01f0b64c4ce (addable to MetaMask) CoinGecko CMC.

Who Are the Founders of SHIB?

Shiba Inu was created by an anonymous developer or group known as Ryoshi. Launched without an ICO, SHIB gained traction through community efforts and endorsements, notably by Vitalik Buterin, who burned 90% of his donated SHIB tokens ($6B+ in 2021). The project operates as a decentralized community with no formal leadership.

What Makes SHIB Unique?

Shiba Inu stands out in Web3:

  • Memecoin Ecosystem: Beyond a meme, SHIB supports DeFi (ShibaSwap), NFTs (Shiboshis), and Shibarium, unlike most memecoins.
  • Massive Community: Known as the “SHIB Army,” its community drives viral marketing and charitable initiatives (e.g., India COVID relief).
  • Token Burning: Regular burns (e.g., 1T SHIB burned in 2024) aim to reduce supply and boost scarcity.
  • Shibarium Scalability: Processes ~1M transactions daily with gas fees under $0.01, competing with Polygon and Arbitrum.

SHIB Network Upgrades (2025)

  • Shibarium V2 (Q1 2025): Improved transaction throughput to 10M daily and added EVM compatibility for dApp growth
  • ShibaSwap 2.0 (March 2025): Enhanced DeFi platform with 20% higher APY for SHIB staking pools.
  • Metaverse Beta (June 2025): Launched SHIB: The Metaverse testnet, integrating 10K NFT land plots with SHIB payments.

How Is SHIB Secured?

SHIB and its ecosystem are secured through:

  • Ethereum PoS: Leverages Ethereum’s Proof-of-Stake for SHIB token security.
  • Shibarium Security: Uses BONE for validator staking, with 21 validators securing the layer-2 network.
  • Smart Contract Audits: Audits by CertiK and Hacken ensure ShibaSwap and Shibarium contract integrity.
  • Community Oversight: Decentralized governance via BONE holders prevents centralized control.

Conclusion

Shiba Inu (SHIB) has grown from a memecoin to a robust Web3 ecosystem with Shibarium, ShibaSwap, and NFT initiatives. With a 589T circulating supply, and 200+ exchange listings, SHIB combines community-driven momentum with DeFi and layer-2 innovation. Its token burns, low-cost transactions, and metaverse ambitions position it as a versatile memecoin.