Shiba Inu (SHIB) is a cryptocurrency that gained popularity in the crypto space, primarily known for its playful Shiba Inu dog mascot, inspired by the Dogecoin phenomenon. Shiba Inu emerged as a decentralized meme token on the Ethereum blockchain, often referred to as a "DOGE killer" due to its association with the Dogecoin community.

Shiba Inu is part of the broader category of meme coins or meme tokens, which are cryptocurrencies created for entertainment and community engagement rather than solving a specific real-world problem. It was created by an anonymous individual or group using the pseudonym "Ryoshi." The project was designed to experiment with decentralized community building and tokenomics, following the success of Dogecoin.

SHIB gained attention for its rapid price movements and community-driven initiatives. It features an ecosystem of tokens, including SHIB, LEASH, and BONE, each serving different purposes within the ShibaSwap decentralized exchange and broader Shiba Inu ecosystem.