Kabosu, the Face of Cryptocurrency Dogecoin, Dies at 18, Owner Says

This picture taken on March 19, 2024 shows Atsuko Sato (L) with her Japanese Shiba Inu dog Kabosu, best known as the logo of cryptocurrency Dogecoin, playing with students at a kindergarten in Narita, Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo. (AFP)
This picture taken on March 19, 2024 shows Atsuko Sato (L) with her Japanese Shiba Inu dog Kabosu, best known as the logo of cryptocurrency Dogecoin, playing with students at a kindergarten in Narita, Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo. (AFP)
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Kabosu, the Face of Cryptocurrency Dogecoin, Dies at 18, Owner Says

This picture taken on March 19, 2024 shows Atsuko Sato (L) with her Japanese Shiba Inu dog Kabosu, best known as the logo of cryptocurrency Dogecoin, playing with students at a kindergarten in Narita, Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo. (AFP)
This picture taken on March 19, 2024 shows Atsuko Sato (L) with her Japanese Shiba Inu dog Kabosu, best known as the logo of cryptocurrency Dogecoin, playing with students at a kindergarten in Narita, Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo. (AFP)

Kabosu, the Japanese dog that became a global meme and the face of alternative cryptocurrency Dogecoin has died at 18, her owner announced in a blog post on Friday.

The Japanese Shiba Inu passed away while sleeping, her owner Atsuko Sato wrote.

Kabosu became recognizable as the face of Dogecoin, an alternative cryptocurrency that began as a satirical critique of the 2013 crypto frenzy.

But the token jumped in value after Tesla boss Elon Musk, a proponent of cryptocurrencies, began tweeting about it in 2020. Since then the billionaire has repeatedly promoted the coin.

Dogecoin added as much as $4 billion to its market value last year when the billionaire, who bought social media site Twitter in 2022, briefly replaced Twitter's blue bird logo with an image of Kabosu. Musk subsequently renamed Twitter X.

With a market capitalization of around $23.6 billion, Dogecoin is now the ninth biggest cryptocurrency, according to data site Coingecko.com. “The impact this one dog has made across the world is immeasurable,” Dogecoin posted on social media site X on Friday.



KFSHRC Performs World’s First Robotic-Assisted BiVAD Implantation

The procedure was meticulously planned and benefited from 3D imaging technologies - SPA
The procedure was meticulously planned and benefited from 3D imaging technologies - SPA
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KFSHRC Performs World’s First Robotic-Assisted BiVAD Implantation

The procedure was meticulously planned and benefited from 3D imaging technologies - SPA
The procedure was meticulously planned and benefited from 3D imaging technologies - SPA

‏King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC) in Riyadh has performed the world’s first implantation of two artificial pumps for biventricular support (BiVAD-HMIII) using robotic technology on a patient with advanced heart failure.

According to a press release, this groundbreaking procedure opens new horizons in circulatory support techniques for patients with complex cardiac conditions, marking a significant medical achievement that culminated in the patient’s recovery within a short period following the surgery.

‏The procedure represents a major advancement in the treatment of bilateral heart failure, which was traditionally performed through full sternotomy, an approach associated with higher surgical risks and prolonged recovery.

The cardiac surgery team at KFSHRC, led by Prof. Feras Khaliel, successfully performed the operation through small incisions using remotely controlled high-precision robotic arms, resulting in reduced blood loss, lower risk of infection, and faster patient recovery.

The procedure was meticulously planned and benefited from 3D imaging technologies, real-time surgical navigation, and innovative solutions for safely securing the mechanical assist devices, added the release.

‏KFSHRC aims to publish the results of this procedure in peer-reviewed medical journals and present them at global cardiology conferences to promote knowledge exchange and establish innovative partnerships with leading international centers in robotic care and advanced heart failure management.

According to SPA, these milestones serve as evidence of its leadership in adopting cutting-edge cardiac technologies and managing critical conditions with the highest standards of precision and safety, further reinforcing its position as a leading academic medical center both regionally and globally.