Launched in December 2013, Dogecoin started as a joke—a parody of Bitcoin and the idea that decentralized finance could take on Wall Street. What began as a meme quickly took on a life of its own, fueled largely by repeated endorsements from Elon Musk. Today, Dogecoin ranks among the world’s top cryptocurrencies, with a market value exceeding $18 billion.
As SpaceX prepares for a potential IPO this year, Musk confirmed on Feb. 2 that the company has absorbed his AI startup, xAI. Around the same time, an old 2021 post resurfaced in which Musk said SpaceX would send a literal Dogecoin to the moon.
When asked when that might happen, Musk replied, “Maybe next year,” later agreeing with another user who said a Dogecoin moon mission was “inevitable.”
Musk has reignited similar speculation before, including late last year, when he hinted he hadn’t abandoned the idea. His public support for Dogecoin has been consistent, from calling it “the people’s crypto” to building cultural references around it. Meanwhile, xAI is expanding into crypto, hiring specialists to train its AI models on digital asset markets.
Despite renewed hype, Dogecoin is still far below its 2021 peak. The token is down about 35% over the past three months, though Musk’s recent comments have given it a modest lift.