Dogecoin is a kind of cryptocurrency that began as a spoof on Bitcoin — yes, a joke! Now it’s one of the most highly valued cryptocurrencies, thanks in part to a plug from Tesla CEO Elon Musk that jolted the digital currency into popular consciousness and then the stratosphere.
Here’s what Dogecoin is, what it does, where it comes from and how to buy it.
What is Dogecoin?
Dogecoin is one of thousands of cryptocurrencies that have recently come into existence. But unlike many other digital currencies that were created to solve a problem, Dogecoin was created literally to poke fun at Bitcoin and the silliness of buying a digital asset that was not backed by any asset or cash flow. Now the tables have turned and Dogecoin is worth money.
Everything about the coin’s origins points to its comical nature:
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- Dogecoin was created by software engineers Jackson Palmer and Billy Markus in 2013 following the quick rise in Bitcoin prices.
- The “altcoin” was designed in about two hours in 2013.
- The creators based it on the Doge meme, a Shiba Inu dog who speaks in broken English.
- There is no limit on how many coins can be issued.
Despite its origins as an attempt to poke fun at the crypto arena, Dogecoin has captured the fancy of the investing, or speculating, public. It’s hugely popular with traders on Robinhood, and the reported total value of all Dogecoins in existence is about $41 billion, as of August 2021.
As Doge himself might say, “Much wow.”
What does Dogecoin do?
Like other cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Dogecoin can act as a way to transfer money between people, either as a payment for goods or services, or simply to send cash. Users can also make transactions semi-anonymously, even if a record is available publicly on the blockchain. And they can do it without going through a traditional intermediary such as a bank.
Suggested read: What is Ethereum and how does it work?
Dogecoin operates on a decentralized network of computers that uses a distributed ledger called a blockchain. Think of the blockchain like a long running receipt of the transactions in the currency. The blockchain verifies transactions and ensures the integrity of the data.
Where do Dogecoins come from?
Like other cryptocurrencies, Dogecoin is “mined” by the decentralized network of computers that runs the currency. The networked computers perform complex mathematical calculations that effectively unlock coins or fractions of coins as a reward for processing transactions.
As of August 2021, about 131 billion Dogecoin were in existence, though new coins are created literally every minute. And unlike Bitcoin — which has a hard cap on its total issuance – Dogecoin has no cap on the number of coins that can be mined. However, annual issuance of new coins is limited to 5 billion and that issuance can proceed indefinitely.
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How to buy Dogecoin
You can buy Dogecoin through many different sites, and your choice of which one to use may depend on what your purpose is:
- If you’re looking to buy Dogecoin merely to speculate, then you can opt for an online brokerage such as Robinhood that allows cryptocurrency trading. Webull and eToro also allow you to trade the coin, but many other brokers do not support crypto trading at all. The broker will hold any stake you have in the coin.
- If you’re looking to buy Dogecoin to speculate or to actually use it, then you can opt for an exchange such as Coinbase or Binance.
If you’re looking to use your crypto holdings, it’s useful to have a crypto wallet that can add an extra layer of protection beyond what is usually offered through an exchange. (Here are some of the top cryptocurrency wallets and what they can offer you.)
The bottom line
Speculators can trade Dogecoin directly on various sites or they can invest in the companies making it and other cryptocurrencies a reality, akin to investing in the “picks and shovels” companies that served as the infrastructure of the Gold Rush. In that way, traders could win regardless of which individual cryptocurrency wins, without having to pick a winner.
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If you’re opting to purchase cryptocurrency or any other investment, it’s vital to know the risks and opportunities. And with many cryptos not backed by anything at all, traders run the risk of a total loss. So those in the crypto arena should proceed with caution and not add money to a position that they cannot afford to lose.
