狗狗幣Dogecoin是什麼？讓Elon Musk也瘋狂 狗狗幣的起源、用途介紹 #虛擬貨幣 (160001)

狗狗幣Dogecoin是什麼？讓Elon Musk也瘋狂 狗狗幣的起源、用途介紹 #虛擬貨幣 (160001)

GME軋空事件震撼了美國金融圈，除了股票市場動盪之外，虛擬貨幣也連帶受到了影響。日前台灣中央銀行粉絲專頁發表了一篇介紹「狗狗幣」的貼文，狗狗幣(Dogecoin)又稱為「多吉幣」或「旺旺幣」，和比特幣(Bitcoin)同樣屬於虛擬貨幣的一種。2021年初GME事件發生，狗狗幣在美國Reddit鄉民和Elon Musk的連帶鼓吹之下達到超過800%的漲幅，出乎意料地再度成為了金融圈的話題焦點。雖然狗狗幣如今已成為世界上流通的主要虛擬貨幣之一，但事實上，狗狗幣的起源只不過是一句玩笑話，它的建立也可以歸因於網路迷因的流行。為什麼狗狗幣叫做「狗狗幣」？和網路迷因有什麼關係呢？讓我們繼續看下去。

相較於比特幣起源於一篇嚴肅的學術論文，狗狗幣的誕生可說是非常「獨特」，它的創造可以說是網路流行話題的結合，也因此狗狗幣的代表圖案就是知名的迷因Doge。相信大部分的人都曾經看過柴犬Doge(狗狗的實際名字為Kabosu，醋橙，但迷因稱之為Doge)的梗圖，1隻日本柴犬配上特定的文字說明，在台灣尤其以「關於感情的問題我一律建議分手」為最主要的流行。

2013年正逢比特幣興起，許多跟風的山寨虛擬貨幣也像春筍般冒出，而同時鋪天蓋地的Doge梗圖也直接或間接造成了網路使用者的精神汙染。狗狗幣的創始人之一，Jackson Palmer當時是Adobe的員工，他用一種諷刺的幽默感將Doge梗圖和虛擬貨幣結合，製作了一張有著Doge頭像的貨幣。Jackson Palmer將這張惡搞圖案放上Twitter，寫著「投資狗狗幣吧！這將是下一件大事(或譯為『一定可以大賺一筆』)」的貼文內容，在發佈之後，這則貼文很快地受到廣大網友們的迴響，於是Jackson Palmer在網友們的鼓吹之下，買下dogecoin.com網域，並在網站留下訊息，徵求想要讓狗狗幣成真的夥伴。

事實上，Jackson Palmer對於加密貨幣一竅不通，狗狗幣也真的只是一個玩笑話，從來沒有想過會真的實現。然而，IBM的工程師Billy Markus在偶然下看見了狗狗幣的訊息，Billy Markus一直都有研究加密貨幣，希望能夠創造出一款讓人們可以廣泛使用，而非單純使用於投資的虛擬貨幣。於是Billy Markus在見到狗狗幣網站後，聯繫了Jackson Palmer，二人的合作讓狗狗幣正式誕生，並且在網路迷因的散播之下，dogecoin.com網站短短30天之內就有超過百萬名訪客。

▲狗狗幣介紹。創造於2013年12月，由萊特幣(Litecoin，比特幣的改進)中派生出來。狗狗幣將挖礦(mining)改成挖洞(diging)，並且將字體改成Doge迷因中使用的Comic Sans字體。

狗狗幣的創辦人Jackson Palmer曾經提過，狗狗幣和比特幣最大的不同，在於狗狗幣並非為了投資而生，因此它擁有更低的挖礦(挖洞)門檻、更方便的購買方式、以及更低的交易費用。在理想的情況下，狗狗幣被設定為一種輕鬆詼諧的虛擬貨幣，它站在虛擬貨幣投資的對立面，一開始設定為1000億個，後續則改為數量無上限，保護狗狗幣的價格。

因為狗狗幣並不值錢，它最常使用在小費和打賞的情況，網友可以在網路上用狗狗幣表達感謝、支持，且因為一般人無法擁有比特幣等其他虛擬貨幣，狗狗幣正好填補了這樣的空缺，讓對虛擬貨幣有興趣的人更容易參與。狗狗幣也常被使用在慈善行為，在2014年，當狗狗幣社群見到牙買加雪橇代表隊沒有經費參與冬季奧運的時候，他們建立了募款活動，最終成功讓雪橇隊可以出國比賽。

對於雪橇隊的比賽支持讓狗狗幣多出了一種俠義的形象，接下來狗狗幣還完成了肯亞水井挖掘募資計畫、以及在2014年3月成功募集了6780萬狗狗幣(當時約5.5萬美元)，贊助NASCAR駕駛員Josh Wise比賽。Josh Wise讓賽車使用狗狗幣的贊助塗裝，這讓狗狗幣在比賽過程中被評論員提起，車體亮相的同時也為狗狗幣宣傳。

▲狗狗幣塗裝賽車，後來美國狗狗幣鄉民的力量也讓Josh Wise在粉絲投票比賽中勝出。(圖片來源：Wiki)

Good to see @Josh_Wise bring back the @dogecoin helmet last weekend! That was such an awesome deal to be apart of pic.twitter.com/VaLUt3LssY

Dogecoin (DOGE): What It Is, What It’s Worth and Should You Be Investing?

Julien Viry / Getty Images

If you’re bored with index funds and you’re ready to roll the dice on one of those sexy and mysterious new alternative investments, you have plenty of options. One of those options involves a Japanese dog, Elon Musk and what appears to be fake money from a toy cash register.

Read: How Does Cryptocurrency Work – and Is It Safe?

That’s Dogecoin (DOGE), and it’s here to rescue anyone who couldn’t bear to wait one second longer for the latest next-big-thing cryptocurrency that promises to out-Bitcoin Bitcoin.

What Is Dogecoin?

Dogecoin is a joke — or at least it started out as one. Two software engineers — IBM’s Billy Markus and Adobe’s Jackson Palmer — created Dogecoin in 2013 to lampoon all the altcoin wannabes that popped up after Bitcoin rose to blockchain fame. As a logo, they chose a Shiba Inu from a meme called Doge, which went viral that same year.

Important: What Is Unrealized Gain or Loss and Is It Taxed?

Like Bitcoin and all cryptocurrency, Dogecoin is:

Decentralized — it’s not issued or backed by a government or bank

“Mined” independently and recorded on a blockchain

Anonymous — privacy is part of the reason crypto is so popular

Unlike Bitcoin and other “deflationary” cryptocurrencies that exist in limited quantities, there is no cap on “inflationary” Dogecoin.

It started as tech-geek satire, but Palmer and Markus were skilled, experienced and imaginative professionals. Their blockchain, proof-of-work process and minting procedures were stable, efficient and secure. Crypto wonks recognized its potential and the fake currency began amassing a very real following.

More Economy Explained: What Is Inflation and What Does It Mean When It Goes Up or Down?

It already had achieved cult status by the time Tesla CEO Elon Musk started tweeting about Dogecoin in 2021. The props from Musk made Dogecoin a household name and sent its value soaring. It’s now one of the most-used altcoins, particularly for tipping on social media.

How Much Is Dogecoin Worth?

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Investors who are put off by the $59,000 asking price of a single Bitcoin will be happy to know that comparatively, Dogecoin trades at a bargain. As of March 19, Dogecoin was trading at $0.0585 per coin. A single Bitcoin will buy you almost exactly 1 million Dogecoins.

Find Out: Why Some Money Experts Believe In Bitcoin and Others Don’t

Is Dogecoin a Good Investment?

If you’re reading a basic primer like this, you’re probably better off sticking with your ETF until you learn the ropes. Investing in crypto is not like buying shares of Walmart or UPS. First, it’s incredibly volatile. Wild price swings that would make the common investor queasy are par for the course.

The way that cryptocurrency is generated, distributed, validated and accounted for is completely foreign even to most tech-savvy investors. It’s not backed by any bank, government or corporation, and despite the fact that it feels like everyone’s talking about it, crypto is still a highly experimental niche concept that the vast majority of people know almost nothing about and are nowhere near adopting.

Read: How To Invest In Cryptocurrency: What You Should Know Before Investing

There’s a steep learning curve to investing in cryptocurrency. It requires immersion. If you’re just hearing about Dogecoin now, it’s probably best to invest time in research before you invest a single dollar in an imaginary coin adorned with a picture of a smiling dog.

More From GOBankingRates

Last updated: March 23, 2021

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Dogecoin (DOGE): What It Is, What It’s Worth and Should You Be Investing?

Why Dogecoin Will Likely Hit New Highs in 2021

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Dogecoin (CCC:DOGE-USD) has been in the limelight in 2021. Starting the year at just $0.005, Dogecoin was at a record high of $0.0872, or 8.7 cents, by early February. Now it’s at 5.7 cents.

Source: Shutterstock

That doesn’t sound like a lot but it’s really a huge increase in percentage. The price of Dogecoin is up 900% so far this year.

The past 12 months have witnessed a surge in trading and investing in cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (CCC:BTC-USD), Ethereum (CCC:ETH-USD), Litecoin (CCC:LTC-USD), among others. Bitcoin, the most popular name, is up 95% in 2021, priced just over $57,000. Meanwhile, interest rates in many countries are at record-low levels. Therefore, a large number of investors are looking at cryptocurrencies as a store of wealth, similar to that offered by gold or other commodities.

With a market capitalization of $7.3 billion, Dogecoin is now one of the most valuable cryptocurrencies. Usman Chohan of the University of New South Wales Australia, says Dogecoin’s market cap is was only $60 million in 2014, but is “driven by an online community base which generates brand” loyalty and demand inelasticity.”

He notes that Dogecoin also has an aggressive production schedule. There were 100 billion coins by mid-2015, and about 5.2 billion new coins are being created each year.

Despite potential short-term volatility, given investors’ risk appetite in cryptocurrencies, I expect Dogecoin will see new highs sooner than later.

Meme Cryptos, Reddit Traders, Elon Musk, and Coinbase

Dogecoin was invented by software engineers Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer in 2013. Their main aim was to create an instant payment system free from traditional banking fees. Unlike Bitcoin, Dogecoin does not limit the number of coins that can be produced.

The creators also brought in the “fun” element by adding the face of the Shiba Inu dog from the “Doge” meme as its logo and namesake. That is why Dogecoin is also referred to a “meme cryptocurrency.”

Initially, Dogecoin was mainly used for “thanking” others on the Internet for “positive acts,” such as an idea or a web-related service. But since 2013, interest has been slowly building up in DOGE.

Then, January 2021 saw the start of significant rallies in Gamestop (NYSE:GME) and AMC Entertainment (NYSE:AMC), mostly due to the interest by Reddit traders. As these retail investors searched for the next trend, Dogecoin piqued their interest.

There was also celebrity support from Elon Musk, whose job title is now “Technoking” of Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA). He wants Dogecoin listed on the digital crypto platform Coinbase for increased accessibility.

In addition to his personal approval of Dogecoin, Tesla has recently announced the purchase of $1.5 billion in Bitcoin and used Coinbase to initiate the investment.

The Bottom Line on Dogecoin

Dogecoin, initially regarded somewhat as a parody coin, now has one of the highest market caps among thousands of cryptocurrencies. Yet, calculating the fair value of a Dogecoin is no easy task. Market participants debate whether the current value represents an overvaluation or undervaluation.

However, what we see is that cryptos, including Dogecoin, have positive momentum behind them at this point. It is not possible to know whether Dogecoin will rally all the way to $1 as its investors hope. More than likely, its price will ebb and flow for the time being.

If you’re an investor with ample time in your hand, you might consider investing in Dogecoin, with the clear understanding that it is a speculative investment. Price could “go to the moon” or might simply tank, too.

I expect to see new highs in Dogecoin in 2021. However, the stellar returns are not likely to unless cryptos move from being speculative assets to having regular retail use with the financial system.

On the date of publication, Tezcan Gecgil did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.

Tezcan Gecgil has worked in investment management for over two decades in the U.S. and U.K. In addition to formal higher education in the field, she has also completed all 3 levels of the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) examination. Her passion is for options trading based on technical analysis of fundamentally strong companies. She especially enjoys setting up weekly covered calls for income generation.

The post Why Dogecoin Will Likely Hit New Highs in 2021 appeared first on InvestorPlace.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.