who started dogecoin

Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer, software engineers with experience in IBM and Adobe, respectively, co-created Dogecoin as a satirical cryptocurrency in 2013.

Oct 23, 2024 at 01:24 am

Who Started Dogecoin?

Dogecoin, a popular cryptocurrency known for its Shiba Inu mascot and lighthearted nature, was created in 2013 by two software engineers:

1. Billy Markus: A software engineer from Portland, Oregon, who worked on IBM's mainframe operating system.
2. Jackson Palmer: An Australian product manager for Adobe who previously worked on cryptocurrency exchanges.

Origin and Inspiration

In late 2013, Palmer created a website and Twitter account for "Dogecoin" as a satirical response to the hype surrounding other cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin. The website featured a picture of a Shiba Inu dog with the Doge meme text "so money, very currency."

Markus noticed Palmer's website and reached out to him, proposing they turn Dogecoin into an actual cryptocurrency. Markus wrote the original Dogecoin code in C++ based on Litecoin, another blockchain project.

Launch and Early Adoption

On December 6, 2013, Dogecoin was officially launched. Its low price and accessible mining process gained it a large and enthusiastic community of early adopters. The Dogecoin subreddit was created shortly after the launch and quickly became one of the most active cryptocurrency communities on Reddit.

Popularity and Market Growth

Dogecoin's popularity soared in early 2014, driven by its viral nature, celebrity endorsements, and media coverage. Its market value skyrocketed from a fraction of a penny to over $1 in a matter of weeks.

Over the years, Dogecoin has remained a popular cryptocurrency within the meme coin subculture. Its value has been highly speculative, often fluctuating significantly based on social media trends and announcements involving Elon Musk, a notable Dogecoin supporter.

Conclusion

Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer, two software engineers seeking to satirize the cryptocurrency frenzy, gave birth to Dogecoin in 2013. The meme-inspired cryptocurrency quickly gained a loyal following and has maintained its popularity within the wider cryptocurrency community.