The shiba inu rescue dog who became an internet sensation and helped inspire a cryptocurrency has died.
Kabosu was 18.
She “fell into a deep sleep this morning and passed away quietly,” owner Atsuko Sato posted on social media platform X.
A memorial is planned for Sunday.
Kabosu, who was immortalized on manhole covers and with a statue during her lifetime, rose to fame in 2010 after a photo of her with a quizzical expression went viral on the internet.
Her likeness spread far and wide, and captions accompanying her mischievous grin became much beloved.
She is also the face of dogecoin, a cryptocurrency initially set up as a joke but which now has a market cap of $22.9 billion, and her likeness was sold as a nonfungible token in 2021 for a record-breaking $4 million.
In response to the news of her demise, fans online are memorializing her likeness in art and memes.
“Kabosu, our community's shared friend and inspiration, peacefully passed in the arms of her person. The impact this one dog has made across the world is immeasurable. She was a being who knew only happiness and limitless love,” Dogecoin said in a statement on X.