Their Love for a Meme Dog Is So Strong That They Made a Bronze Statue in Japan

Hey there, and a huge welcome to our very first "Humans Of Crypto" issue!

It's here where we celebrate the stories of some pretty incredible folks—yeah, the ones whose hearts beat to the rhythm of those blockchain beats and whose dreams are stitched into every byte of crypto.

This time around, we're diving into a story that's all heart and all viral Kabosu. You probably know her better as 'Doge,' or the Dog behind Dogecoin — yes, that lovable furball who's become as iconic as the Mona Lisa.

From Meme to Movement

"Basically, the project started as the Doge NFT. At the peak of the NFT craze, Atsuko Sato, the owner of Kabosu, auctioned off the original meme photo on Ethereum. To everyone's delight, it sold for $4 million," recounts Tridog, one of the visionaries behind 'Own the Doge,' the community that believes in harnessing the Doge for good. 

This community isn't just flexing for the web. With over a million dollars donated to Save the Children, they've turned the crypto world's eyes upon real-world impact. "We're the largest crypto donor to Save the Children," Tridog told Humans Of Crypto.

Doge Day Every November 2

What started as a meme spiraled into a movement, rallying an entire community to mark November 2nd as the official Doge Day.

Tridog remembers fondly, "We wanted a day where anyone in the world could celebrate the happiness, love, and joy that Doge inspires. It's about doing good every day. It's also about being silly—silliness is next to godliness, after all."

Together, Dogecoin enthusiasts and the broader community raised around $100,000 and constructed a bronze statue in Japan, where Kabosu herself often roams.

"The Doge statue was our shared dream, a lighthouse we built for our community. Seeing it unveiled was a childhood fantasy in real life—pure magic."

He takes a moment, reminiscent of the simpler times that shaped his vision. "Growing up with Labradors, I found friendship in their trusting eyes. That's where my journey with dogs began, guiding me to what I do now—spreading Doge's joy and innocence."

Beyond the screens and crypto tickers, Tridog shares: "Standing there, on Doge Day, a sea of faces lit by the unveiling of Kabosu's statue—it felt like the community's love took a form, right in Sakura, where she loves to stroll."

He laughs, recalling the journey from a shared love of a meme to a global phenomenon: "From a viral photo on a blog to a bronze statue in Japan, if you'd told me this as a kid, I'd have thought it was a tale spun by my wild imagination. Yet, here we are and the story just keeps getting better."

"It’s a gathering spot, you know? A shared pilgrimage for the crypto community," Tridog concludes.

Lights, Camera, Doge: The Documentary

The ambitions for OwnTheDoge community is not over yet, with a documentary in the works to immortalize Kabosu's tale. "We've been this funky group of Doge fans who've come together to create a like Netflix-level film, you know?" Tridog hints at the teaser.

At the heart of this communal experience stand individuals united by their affection for the Shiba Inu and their commitment to positive change. Tridog is joined by other key figures such as Smoke, Shubh, Salad Pingers, and many more—a brigade of meme lords and guardians of joy.

An Acknowledgment from the Stars?

As the community waits with bated breath, they hope heavyweights like Elon Musk acknowledge their efforts, especially the bronze statue initiative.

"We’ve had Billy Markus (Dogecoin Co-founder) on our spaces, worked with legends from the Dogecoin Foundation...now we hope Musk sees the magic we're spreading," Tridog shares with an optimistic glint.

Got a story that just can't wait? We're all ears - drop us a line!