Shiba Inu (SHIB) is a decentralized cryptocurrency created in August 2020 as a playful alternative to Dogecoin, featuring the same Shiba Inu dog breed as its mascot. Initially launched as an experiment in decentralized community building, SHIB has evolved into a diverse ecosystem that includes decentralized exchange ShibaSwap and supports NFT projects. The token gained mainstream attention in 2021 when its price surged dramatically, making it one of the most widely recognized meme coins in the crypto space. Despite starting as a meme token, SHIB's ecosystem has expanded to include various utilities, including staking, NFT gaming, and decentralized finance features.