How Dogecoin Rose From Meme to Major Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency enthusiasts and blockchain backers see serious potential for top coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum, which could upend traditional financial systems and impact a wide array of industries.

But there's almost nothing serious about Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE), a so-called "joke" coin that was inspired by a meme of a Shiba Inu dog. Actually, there is one serious detail: the price gains that Dogecoin has experienced so far in 2021. Dogecoin started the year at less than a penny per coin before surging in late January, as a byproduct of the meme stock trend that impacted GameStop, AMC, and others.

But Dogecoin hasn't backed down: it reached a high above $0.73 in May amid the most recent bull run. While it's currently off that mark by over 50% amid wider crypto market declines, Dogecoin's price still sits about 60 times higher than it did on January 1 and it has high-profile advocates nudging it forward. Here's a brief look at how Dogecoin became much more than just a meme.

Source Fool.com