Kabosu, the memeified dog widely known as face of Dogecoin, has died, owner says

Kabosu, the Japanese dog famously known online for being the face of the cryptocurrency Dogecoin, has passed away.

Owner Atsuko Sato announced the death of the beloved 18-year-old Shiba Inu in a tribute post on her blog on Friday morning.

"While being caressed by me," she wrote in the post translated by Google, "he passed away quietly."

Sato said she's holding a farewell gathering on Sunday.

"Thank you all so much for loving Kabosu all these years. I am certain that Kabosu was the happiest dog in the world," Sato continued. "That makes me the happiest owner in the world."

On its official X account, Dogecoin confirmed Kabosu's death.

"Today Kabosu, our community's shared friend and inspiration, peacefully passed in the arms of her person," the post read. "The impact this one dog has made across the world is immeasurable. She was a being who knew only happiness and limitless love."

Dogecoin was initially created 2013 as a joke amid the rise in digital coins such as bitcoin.

Kabosu became a popular meme online in the early 2010s. The photo shows the dog staring directly into the camera with its eyebrows raised.

Related: Not a joke anymore: Dogecoin, the cryptocurrency created as a spoof, sees its market value top $40B

Sato announced Kabosu was sick in 2022

In 2022, Sato announced that Kabosu was diagnosed with chronic lymphoma leukemia and acute cholangiohepatitis − described as an "inflammatory condition" in bile ducts, gall bladder, and liver.

"The liver level is very bad, and jaundice appears," she wrote in December 2022, adding that antibiotics were helping improve her condition.

Social media users shared their condolences online, acknowledging Kabosu's contributions.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dogecoin dog dies: Internet-famous Kabosu has passed away, owner says