Bull doge! Dogecoin soars as Trump announces a government efficiency group nicknamed DOGE

Dogecoin

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Dogecoin - Figure 1
Photo The Independent

Wow, what a strong bull market!

Dogecoin, the cryptocurrency featuring an adorable dog and phrases like "such wow," has seen a significant increase in value following Donald Trump's recent presidential election victory. Its popularity is skyrocketing, especially after Trump appointed Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, to lead a new initiative called the “Department of Government Efficiency.” Although it's not an official government entity, the acronym for it is DOGE.

All of this is likely to resonate and perhaps even be amusing for those who spend a lot of time online. For those who might not be as familiar, let me provide some context to clarify what's happening:

It's a type of cryptocurrency whose worth fluctuates compared to the U.S. dollar, depending on how much buyers are willing to spend on it.

Initially, it was taken as a joke. However, as time went on, dogecoin gained a dedicated following that has often driven its price up significantly. Similar to other cryptocurrencies, its fans argue that it can be utilized for online transactions without the interference of a central bank or government regulating its supply.

What is the increase in the value of Dogecoin?

Before Election Day, the value of one Dogecoin — pronounced "dohj-coin" — was under 16 cents. As of midday Wednesday, it has more than doubled in price, now sitting at about 41.5 cents, based on data from CoinDesk.

What’s causing the rapid increase?

Since Trump's election, cryptocurrencies have been on a significant upward trend. Bitcoin, the most well-known digital currency, reached a record high of over $92,000, rising from under $43,000 at the beginning of the year.

There's a buzz in the air as Trump has announced his support for cryptocurrency, expressing his desire for the United States to become the world's leading hub for crypto and to establish a "strategic reserve" of bitcoin.

What’s Elon Musk's connection to all of this?

Musk has grown to be one of Trump's trusted supporters and has gained a reputation as a prominent enthusiast of dogecoin. In 2021, he even portrayed a character known as the "Dogefather" on "Saturday Night Live."

In 2022, Musk gained more attention when he proposed that Twitter might consider allowing dogecoin as a payment option for subscription services.

Everything reached a climax on Tuesday when Trump revealed the launch of the “Department of Government Efficiency.” This new department will operate independently from the government to provide the White House with “advice and guidance.” It will collaborate with the Office of Management and Budget to push for extensive structural changes and develop a fresh, entrepreneurial approach to governance that has never been seen before.

Its abbreviation is DOGE, which is also the trading symbol for dogecoin. Musk will be at the helm, joined by former GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy.

This all feels a bit strange.

The backstory of Dogecoin is quite fascinating.

On April 20, 2021, supporters of dogecoin made an attempt to push its price past $1, marking the occasion as "Doge Day," but ultimately did not succeed.

April 20 has become a sort of informal celebration for cannabis enthusiasts over the years. Elon Musk has also mentioned the number 420 numerous times throughout his career, including a tweet from 2018 in which he claimed he had obtained funding to take Tesla private at a share price of $420.

Is the Shiba Inu featured in the meme receiving any special snacks due to all this attention?

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