In the aftermath of the devastating New Year’s Day earthquake in Japan, the lead developer of Shiba Inu expressed a deep sense of urgency and a commitment to take action. Recognizing the need for immediate response, the developer emphasized the importance of collaborating with the Japanese community to generate ideas and strategies promptly.
Kusama, earlier in the year, extended New Year wishes to the Japanese community, accompanied by heartfelt condolences for the catastrophic 7.6-magnitude earthquake that struck the nation on January 1, 2024, at 16:10 JST. The earthquake wreaked havoc along Japan’s western coast, leading to the collapse of buildings, outbreaks of fire, and the issuance of tsunami alerts reaching as far as eastern Russia. Rescuers engaged in a race against time to save individuals trapped in the debris, with the quake triggering multiple aftershocks and claiming the lives of dozens.
NHK, the Japanese public broadcaster, reported a grim toll of at least 57 casualties caused by the earthquake. In response to this tragedy, Kusama expressed sympathy and support, hoping for a swift recovery and conveying his best wishes for a new year filled with hope and peace.
The Shiba Inu cryptocurrency holds a significant presence in the Japanese market, given the popularity of its mascot within the Japanese online community. The meme coin’s inclusion on Coincheck, a leading Tokyo-based crypto exchange, since December 14, 2023, is anticipated to enhance accessibility and liquidity for the digital asset.
Shiba Inu Claims 2nd Spot In WazirX
Coincheck’s move follows similar actions by other Japanese exchanges, with BitTrade announcing the addition of Shiba Inu to its platform in October 2023. SBI VC Trade commenced trading SHIB, along with DAI and Cosmos [ATOM], in June of the same year, while OKCoin Japan expanded the availability of the meme coin for Japanese traders earlier in 2023. These developments underscore the growing significance of Shiba Inu in the Japanese cryptocurrency landscape.
SHIB has also emerged as a standout performer in the cryptocurrency realm, surpassing major players like Ethereum [ETH], Cardano [ADA], and Ripple [XRP] to secure the second-most traded position in 2023. The meme token’s popularity soared, earning it a coveted spot on the India-based crypto exchange WazirX, where it remains among the top-performing crypto assets by trading volume, second only to Bitcoin.
WazirX’s 2022 annual report underscored the increasing popularity of Shiba Inu among investors seeking fresh opportunities in the crypto market.