Shiba Inu (SHIB) Is No Longer a Memecoin, Aims to Compete With XRP and Cardano (ADA)

Shytoshi Kusama, Shiba Inu's lead developer, has clarified that SHIB is no longer positioning itself as a memecoin.

Shiba Inu’s lead developer, Shytoshi Kusama, has stated that the memecoin is no longer interested in competing with other memecoins. Instead, the project now aims to compete with established utility-focused cryptocurrencies like Cardano (ADA) and XRP.

This statement was made in response to a suggestion from a community member, known as Jolt, to revisit Shiba Inu’s earlier humor-driven marketing strategies. Jolt pointed to the recent success of Litecoin’s playful campaign, which has garnered attention for its engaging, meme-centric approach.

Litecoin recently adopted a humorous tone in its marketing efforts, using social media to playfully interact with crypto enthusiasts. As part of this campaign, Litecoin jokingly announced a shift toward memecoin branding and adopted the slogan, “Take the L.” Kusama acknowledged this campaign, describing it as a fun and clever strategy.

Jolt highlighted Shiba Inu’s early marketing efforts, which heavily utilized humor and community engagement to attract a diverse audience. He suggested that the project could benefit from returning to this approach to further expand its reach.

In response to Jolt, Kusama stated that Shiba Inu now employs a community-driven marketing strategy, where future decisions regarding promotions and outreach will be influenced by feedback from the community, especially through the upcoming decentralized autonomous organization (DAO).

This system will allow community members to participate in key decisions, including the direction of the ecosystem’s marketing. Kusama noted that while some suggestions can be implemented quickly, others may require a longer-term plan. He emphasized the need to strike a balance between humor and professionalism, reflecting Shiba Inu’s shift away from its memecoin roots.

Moreover, Kusama clarified that the asset is no longer competing with other memecoins. Instead, the project now aims to establish itself alongside larger, utility-driven blockchain platforms like XRP and Cardano.

He highlighted that strategies suitable for smaller projects with market caps around $6 billion are insufficient when competing in higher tiers, such as the $50 billion range where XRP and Cardano operate.

To succeed at this level, he emphasized the importance of adopting professional marketing strategies geared toward mainstream adoption without neglecting the community-focused approach.

Launched in 2020 as a memecoin, the digital asset has undergone a transformation with the introduction of various utility-driven initiatives, including blockchain-based games and a Layer 2 blockchain solution, which Kusama believes has changed SHIB’s narrative from a memecoin to a utility token.

With a current market cap of around $14.88 billion, Shiba Inu has grown substantially but still lags behind Cardano’s $26.45 billion valuation and XRP’s $62.76 billion. Kusama's comments signal the project's aspiration to compete in this space and position itself as a serious player within the broader cryptocurrency market.

As the team continues to refine its strategy to support its long-term goals, further updates on the token’s marketing approach can be expected.