What Is Dogecoin, How to Say It, and Why It’s No Longer a Joke

At its peak, that gave the cryptocurrency a year-to-date acquire of greater than 15,000%, in response to closing figures from CoinDesk, greater than quadruple the good points on the S&P 500, together with dividends, since 1988.

Since Mr. Musk’s SNL look, nevertheless, the cryptocurrency has fallen, not too long ago buying and selling on June 2 at about 42 cents, a roughly 43% fall from its document. Robinhood Markets Inc. tweeted throughout the SNL broadcast that it was “experiencing points with crypto buying and selling,” citing in a subsequent tweet “excessive buying and selling quantity and volatility.”

Throughout Mr. Musk’s look on the present’s satirical information phase, Weekend Replace, solid members

Michael Che

and

Colin Jost

requested him a number of instances to elucidate what dogecoin is. Lastly, after Mr. Che requested, “So, it’s a hustle?”, Mr. Musk replied, laughing, “Yeah, it’s a hustle.”

So, what’s dogecoin, how did we get right here and why are individuals so enthusiastic about it? We’ve acquired solutions to your questions.

First issues first: How do you pronounce “dogecoin”?

In line with the cryptocurrency’s co-founder,

Billy Markus,

the proper pronunciation is “dohj coin.” Some desire to pronounce the primary syllable like “canine” or “doggy.”

What’s dogecoin?

Dogecoin is a cryptocurrency that began as a joke in 2013. It’s a satirical homage to bitcoin, designed to serve no actual goal aside from producing a couple of laughs.

It’s named after an web meme centered across the picture of a Shiba Inu canine with dangerous spelling habits—thus “doge” as a substitute of “canine.”

Why has dogecoin’s reputation exploded?

On Jan 28, Mr. Musk tweeted a faux “Dogue” magazine cover. It isn’t clear why or what caught his consideration.

He has since continued to tweet in regards to the cryptocurrency. As soon as, he shared a meme based mostly on the film “The Lion King,” with the Shiba Inu canine superimposed on Simba’s face. One other time, he wrote, “Who let the Doge out,” and “No highs, no lows, solely Doge.” Maybe in an effort to be useful, he additionally tweeted what he described as an educational video titled “D is for Dogecoin.”

Mr. Musk renewed his curiosity within the cryptocurrency in April, tweeting, “Doge Barking on the Moon.” And after SNL aired, he tweeted: “SpaceX launching satellite tv for pc Doge-1 to the moon subsequent 12 months,” including “Mission paid for in Doge,” in addition to “1st crypto in house.”

His cryptic feedback have prompted the cryptocurrency’s reputation to skyrocket, with musicians together with rappers

Snoop Dogg

and

Soulja

Boy in addition to Kiss frontman

Gene Simmons,

sharing memes and tweets with their followers.

A mainstream shopper model,

Conagra Manufacturers Inc.’s

jerky snack Slim Jim, jumped on the dogecoin bandwagon, calling for it on April 13 to “go to the moon.” Different manufacturers have additionally turned consideration to dogecoin, with Mars Inc.’s Snickers model tweeting “Perhaps we should always simply #DogecoinToTheMoon” on Might 3.

Dogecoin has turn into one of many prime 4 cryptocurrencies by market worth, in response to Coinmarketcap.com. That places it behind bitcoin, ether and binance coin.

Even with its fall, dogecoin’s market worth of almost $55 billion nonetheless exceeds that of

Kraft Heinz Co.

and

Greenback Common Corp.

Followers of dogecoin on-line are rooting for it to achieve $1.

What are the dangers of investing in dogecoin?

Cryptocurrencies are risky and liable to giant swings in both path.

Bitcoin, as an example, has skyrocketed this 12 months and by April 16 was buying and selling above $61,000, in contrast with lower than $30,000 on the finish of final 12 months. However the cryptocurrency has been liable to pullbacks, together with a number of instances this 12 months. It was buying and selling at $37,358.68 on June 2.

Earlier this 12 months, Tesla mentioned it invested $1.5 billion in bitcoin and deliberate to begin accepting the cryptocurrency as fee for its merchandise.

Dogecoin may as simply lose 90% of its worth, cautions

Garrick Hileman,

head of analysis at blockchain.com, a cryptocurrency transactions firm. “I do fear about all the eye paid to a cryptocurrency that traditionally has not seen real-world traction and is a little bit of a joke—actually,” he mentioned.

How can I purchase dogecoin?

Dogecoin might be purchased with a bank card on cryptocurrency exchanges equivalent to Bittrex International GmbH and Payward Inc.’s Kraken, in addition to buying and selling platforms together with the favored brokerage Robinhood Markets Inc.

In February, deVere Group mentioned it added dogecoin to its crypto-trading app as demand surged due to what Chief Government

Nigel Inexperienced

known as “The Elon Impact.” The web brokerage Webull Monetary LLC added dogecoin to its Webull Crypto platform in April. And eToro mentioned on Might 3 that it had added dogecoin to its record of supplied property.

Cryptocurrency alternate Gemini adopted, saying in Might that deposits and buying and selling have been accessible for dogecoin.

Can I purchase dogecoin on Coinbase?

Coinbase on June 1 mentioned it might permit customers to commerce the joke cryptocurrency on a platform geared towards extra skilled traders.

Buying and selling in dogecoin may start on Coinbase Professional at midday ET on June 3, the corporate mentioned, if prospects switch sufficient of their holdings of the digital asset to Coinbase to generate ample potential to purchase and promote the tokens.

What occurred not too long ago with Robinhood and dogecoin?

Robinhood prospects have skilled issues with cryptocurrency buying and selling in current weeks as demand for dogecoin has surged. In mid-April, the net brokerage tweeted that it was “experiencing points with crypto buying and selling” resulting from unprecedented volumes.

On Might 4, Robinhood customers reported having issues buying and selling crypto on the platform once more. An organization spokeswoman mentioned the matter was resolved in slightly over an hour. The platform skilled points with crypto buying and selling once more on Might 9. They have been later resolved.

Can I purchase something with dogecoin?

Most conventional on-line retailers don’t settle for any cryptocurrency as a type of fee.

The parents behind web site Shibe Mint promote copper tokens—stamped with a “D” and the 12 months 2014—for $12 apiece. You possibly can pay for these tokens with dogecoin, however they’re at present offered out. You may also get your doge swag, equivalent to a “doge seller” T-shirt from dogeswag.com.

The Dallas Mavericks basketball staff presents merchandise on the market in dogecoin. Mr. Cuban, the staff’s proprietor, tweeted that it had set a 24-hour document in gross sales April 16. The Oakland A’s, the Main League Baseball staff, introduced not too long ago that followers may purchase tickets to its Might 3-6 video games with dogecoin.

Exchanges that commerce dogecoin will even allow you to convert your cryptocurrency into conventional currencies.

Who invented dogecoin?

Builders Mr. Markus and

Jackson Palmer

co-created dogecoin as a joke in 2013. Even the best way individuals initially obtained the coin was meant to be ridiculous: In return for fixing mathematical puzzles, dogecoin miners working fast-running computer systems obtained wherever from one dogecoin to a whole bunch of 1000’s of dogecoins.

Neither works on the undertaking anymore, and Mr. Markus has mentioned he offered all of his dogecoin in 2015. He made simply sufficient from it to buy a used Honda Civic.

“The thought of dogecoin being value 8 cents is similar as GameStop being value $325,” Mr. Markus, 38 years outdated, mentioned not too long ago. “It doesn’t make sense. It’s tremendous absurd. The coin design was absurd.”

Why is dogecoin so standard?

Some argue that it’s yet one more signal of the market insanity that has seen surges in shares touted on on-line boards.

Regardless of almost a decade passing since its creation, dogecoin has remained beloved by a small group that has Photoshopped the canine’s furry face onto all the pieces from astronauts to Twinkies. That group is now rising quickly.

Write to Caitlin Ostroff at caitlin.ostroff@wsj.com and Caitlin McCabe at caitlin.mccabe@wsj.com