Initial and Current Supply
At launch, Shiba Inu had a massive total supply of 1 quadrillion tokens. This unusually large supply set it apart and drew attention to the project. Since then, various burns have reduced the total circulating supply. Notably, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin burned 410 trillion SHIB tokens by sending them to a dead wallet in 2021, and the SHIB community continues burning tokens regularly.
Today, the circulating supply of Shiba Inu stands at approximately 589 trillion SHIB tokens. The community’s commitment to periodic burns has made SHIB more deflationary over time, which can help reduce supply and potentially increase its value as scarcity increases.
Why Token Supply Matters to Investors
The large supply of SHIB is often misunderstood. Just as in traditional stocks, the true value of SHIB lies not in the token price but in market capitalization—the token price multiplied by the total supply. Investors should consider market cap to gauge the value of a cryptocurrency project rather than the individual token price. This principle is similar to comparing the worth of companies like Apple and Berkshire Hathaway, where total share count determines value, not the per-share price.
SHIB Supply vs. Other Cryptocurrencies
Comparing SHIB to other popular cryptocurrencies like Dogecoin and Bitcoin helps put things in perspective:
Dogecoin (DOGE)
has a circulating supply of about 141 billion DOGE and an unlimited supply, meaning it is inflationary.
Bitcoin (BTC)
has a capped supply of 21 million BTC and follows a predictable, deflationary model with halving events every four years, reducing the rate of new Bitcoin issuance.
The Future of SHIB’s Supply
Ongoing burns will likely continue, with the SHIB community determining burn events and staking activities as part of its deflationary strategy. Community involvement, future burns, and any new partnerships or project updates will play a role in SHIB’s long-term supply and price potential.
