What Is the Shiba Inu Coin?

Zac McClure
ByZac McClure, MBAReviewed byAlex MilesUpdated on June 3, 2025 · minute read
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  • Shiba Inu (SHIB) is an ERC‑20 token on Ethereum that powers a three‑token ecosystem (SHIB, LEASH, BONE), Shibarium L2, and the ShibaSwap DEX.

  • Every sale, swap, stake reward, or airdrop of SHIB triggers a taxable event for US taxpayers. TokenTax can import those transactions and generate Form 8949 in minutes.

What is the Shiba Inu Coin?

Launched in 2020 by the pseudonymous Ryoshi, Shiba Inu is a community‑driven meme token that has expanded into ShibaSwap, the Shibarium Layer‑2 network, and a metaverse initiative. The ecosystem also includes LEASH (scarcity token) and BONE (governance and gas on Shibarium).

Use our free crypto tax calculator.

How does the Shiba Inu Coin work?

  • ERC‑20 foundation: inherits Ethereum’s security and liquidity.

  • Shibarium L2: reduces gas costs and uses BONE as the fee token.

  • ShibaSwap DEX: users stake or provide liquidity and earn BONE.

  • Burn mechanics: a portion of Shibarium gas is used to burn SHIB, shrinking supply.

  • Metaverse + NFTs: “SHIB: The Metaverse” and Shiboshi NFT collection add utility.

Shiba Inu airdrop

Occasional community campaigns distribute SHIB, LEASH, or BONE to wallet holders or liquidity providers. Airdrops are generally treated as ordinary income at fair‑market value on receipt.

Learn how crypto airdrops are taxed.

What makes SHIB different from other meme coins?

  • Multi‑token structure with defined roles (SHIB store of value, LEASH scarcity, BONE governance).

  • Proprietary L2 (Shibarium) rather than relying solely on mainnet Ethereum.

  • Active burn program funded by transaction fees.

  • Roadmap that includes a metaverse, DeFi lending, and payment partnerships.

Learn more about meme coins.

How to buy Shiba Inu Coin

  1. Create a wallet (MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet).

  2. Fund with ETH for mainnet or bridge to Shibarium for lower fees.

  3. Use a DEX (Uniswap, ShibaSwap) or a centralized exchange (Binance, Coinbase) to purchase SHIB.

  4. Store tokens in a secure wallet and consider a hardware option for long‑term holding.

Where to buy Shiba Inu Coin

  • Centralized: Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, KuCoin.

  • Decentralized: Uniswap (ETH), ShibaSwap (ETH & Shibarium). Compare fees, liquidity, and KYC requirements.

What is the future of Shiba Inu Coin?

Upcoming milestones include full Shibarium main‑net adoption, a Shiba Eternity blockchain game with SHIB burns, and expanded real‑world payment integrations. Long‑term performance depends on community engagement and successful delivery of these products.

Risks of investing in meme coins

  • High volatility; SHIB’s price has moved ±30% in single sessions.

  • Limited fundamental valuation metrics.

  • Smart‑contract or bridge exploits.

  • Regulatory actions affecting centralized‑exchange listings.

Always conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrency, and understand the associated risks.

See our expert picks of the best crypto wallets.

Tax implications of buying and selling SHIB

  • Buys: not taxable until disposal.

  • Sales/swaps: capital gain or loss = proceeds minus cost basis.

  • Staking or yield farming rewards: ordinary income at the time received.

  • Airdrops: ordinary income based on FMV at receipt, then basis for future gains.

  • Burns: no direct tax impact but reduce circulating supply.

Shiba Inu Coin tax with TokenTax

TokenTax connects to Ethereum and Shibarium wallets as well as exchanges like Binance or Coinbase to pull every SHIB transaction automatically. The platform calculates gains in FIFO, LIFO, or Minimization, tracks staking and airdrop income, and outputs information you need to file taxes quickly and accurately Our CPA team can also advise on strategies such as tax‑loss harvesting or staking‑income planning.

Shiba Inu Coin FAQs

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Zac McClure
Zac McClureCo-Founder & CEO at TokenTax
Zac co-founded TokenTax after his career in international finance and accounting at JPMorgan, Imprint Capital and Bain. He has worked in more than half-dozen countries and received his MBA from the UPenn Wharton School.
Alex Miles
Reviewed byAlex MilesCo-Founder at TokenTax
Prior to TokenTax, Alex worked as a Product Designer at Dropbox and before that Readmill (acquired by Dropbox). He holds a BS in Digital Information Design - Interactive Media from Winthrop University.

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