- Home
- Cryptocurrency
- Articles
- What is and how to buy Shiba Inu coins?
What is and how to buy Shiba Inu coins?
Shiba Inu (SHIB) is a cryptocurrency token that operates on the Ethereum blockchain and belongs to a class of cryptos called ‘meme coins’. Meme coins are cryptocurrencies based on a ‘meme’ - a humorous text, image, or video that gains rapid popularity on the internet. Meme coins are also known in the crypto universe for being extremely volatile as their value sways by large amounts in response to community hype and news (much like the virality of a meme).
Similar to other meme coins, Shiba Inu has witnessed sudden spikes and drops in value due to hype and celebrity endorsements. It reached an all-time high in October 2021 and has experienced a gradual decline since then.
History of the Shiba Inu token
The Shiba Inu token was launched in 2020 by an anonymous person (or group) under the pseudonym Ryoshi. It’s based on (and also named after) the Japanese dog breed that’s featured in the Doge meme that inspired Dogecoin, which is considered the first meme coin. Shiba Inu was, in fact, launched as a competitor to Dogecoin.
To differentiate itself from other meme coins and gain a strong foothold in the crypto world, the developers of Shiba Inu gave the primary founder of Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin, fifty per cent of all Shiba Inu tokens in circulation. Rumours that Vitalik owned and held SHIB soon surfaced on social media. This hype drove investors to buy Shiba Inu coins, causing a surge in value. In May of 2021, Vitalik donated 50 trillion SHIB (worth about AUD$ 9.4 billion at the time) to the India Covid Relief Fund and then burned a major portion of the remaining SHIB tokens he owned. This caused the Shiba Inu coin price to plummet.
The value of SHIB remained constant for a while until October 2021, when Elon Musk tweeted a picture of his new Shiba Inu puppy. Rumours that Elon Musk backed Shiba Inu went viral, and this caused the value of the token to skyrocket to it's all-time high in around three weeks. The value gradually began dropping and eventually reached its pre-tweet value in about eight months.
How to buy Shiba Inu coins?
If you want to buy Shiba Inu, you can use the coin’s native crypto exchange platform ShibaSwap or any other crypto exchange platform that lists SHIB tokens. The process of buying SHIB tokens is the same as other cryptocurrencies - you’ll have to create an account on a crypto exchange platform, deposit fiat or normal currency, look for SHIB tokens, and then purchase the quantity you want.
Whether or not you should buy Shiba Inu depends on your risk-taking capacity and investment outlook. Shiba Inu’s history resembles that of most meme coins. The value is driven by speculation and hype; it surges for a short period and then drops back down.
Such volatility makes Shiba Inu one of the riskier cryptocurrencies to invest in. However, Shiba Inu remains a popular meme coin in circulation today. It is ranked fourteenth among all cryptocurrencies based on a market cap in December 2022. It could potentially increase in value, but it may also need another viral event for this increase to be substantial.
If you decide to buy Shiba Inu coins, consider only investing an amount that you can afford to lose, keeping in mind the volatility of the asset. Volatility and uncertainty in price are typical among cryptocurrencies but are amplified in meme coins. You could also speak with a financial expert to seek help in building a diverse investment portfolio to grow your wealth sustainably.
Subscribe to our newsletter
By continuing, I accept RateCity's Privacy Policy, Terms of Use and Disclaimer.
Compare cryptocurrency exchanges
Swyftx
Cryptocurrencies available: 245
Fiat Currencies Accepted: AUD, NZD
Trading Fee: 0.6%-0% based on a rolling 30 day's trading volume
Withdrawal Fee: $0 for AUD/ Deposit's withdrawals. Network transaction fees apply while transferring coins to an external wallet
Deposit Fees: No POLi fees. No fees on cryptocurrency and PayID deposits. Credit/Debit card deposits supported (5% fee)
An Australian owned and operated digital currency exchange that allows users to sell, trade and buy Bitcoin, and over 245+ other digital assets, with low trading fees and one of the smallest spreads available.
CoinJar
Cryptocurrencies available: 57
Fiat Currencies Accepted: AUD, GBP
Trading Fee: 0%-1%
Withdrawal Fee: No fee for AUD or GBP withdrawals. Cryptocurrency withdrawal fees are based on blockchain network fees
Deposit Fees: No fees with PayID; 2% fee with credit / debit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay
Australia's longest-running cryptocurrency exchange with over 500,000 Australian customers and a simple to use app for both iOS and Android.
Digital Surge
Cryptocurrencies available: 245
Fiat Currencies Accepted: AUD
Trading Fee: 0.1%-0.5% based on a rolling 30 day trading volume.
Withdrawal Fee: None for Australian bank accounts - Instant withdrawals through Osko/PayID.
Deposit Fees: No fees for Osko/PayID, Direct Deposit, Bank Transfers or cryptocurrency. POLi fees range from $2-$3.30.
Because simplicity makes life better. The easiest way for Australians to buy, sell & store over 245+ cryptocurrencies. Low fees, tight spreads, Aussie-based customer support & an interface that makes crypto enjoyable & easy-to-understand. Simple. Safe. Stress-free.
CoinSpot
Cryptocurrencies available: 263
Fiat Currencies Accepted: AUD
Trading Fee: 0.1% to 1% based on order type
Withdrawal Fee: None for Australian Bank Accounts
Deposit Fees: No fees for POLi, PayID, Direct Deposit and Bank Transfers. 0.9% BPAY fee, 2.5% cash fee
Australia’s most trusted exchange since 2013.
Cointree
Cryptocurrencies available: 280+
Fiat Currencies Accepted: AUD
Trading Fee: 0.05%-0.9%
Withdrawal Fee: No fee with fiat withdrawals. Cryptocurrency withdrawal fees vary.
Deposit Fees: No fee
Buy, sell, trade and pay with crypto. Simple, low fees, easy to use and trusted by 100,000+ members. Enjoy $10 BTC credit after verification with promo code: RATE10
This information does not reflect any ranking, rating, recommendation or endorsement by RateCity of cryptocurrency or any specific provider. RateCity is providing factual information supplied by providers. Not all providers or products are shown. RateCity will earn a fee from the providers displayed in the table (if a link to the provider's website is shown), and the fee levels determine placement in the table. Cryptocurrencies are speculative, complex and can involve significant risks. RateCity is not providing a recommendation for your individual circumstances.
Product database updated 23 Nov, 2024