# Dogecoin

Dogecoin (DOGE) started out as a joke cryptocurrency inspired by a popular Doge meme involving the Shiba Inu dog. Soon enough, the currency ceased to be the subject of jokes based on its market cap size and level of functionality on the offer. Dogecoin came into existence in December 2013 as a creation of Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer who sought to bring back some fun to the world of cryptos. The existing Luckycoin, a fork of Litecoin, was used as the technical basis for the project. Despite its lighter approach to promotion and marketing, Dogecoin offered more or less similar features to those presented by more serious and larger players on the crypto scene: peer-to-peer payment with fast transaction speeds, transactions without intermediaries, conversion, trading and mining. Dogecoin is often featured in the news based on its popularity among those who want to give charity donations or tips, or on the account of the activities of the Dogecoin Foundation that is often found at the forefront of various charitable actions. Dogecoin’s friendly image earned it many supporters among the celebrities including Elon Musk who named it his favorite crypto.