Dogecoin vs. Shiba Inu: Who Will Win the 2026 Meme Coin Return Battle?

▲ Shiba Inu (SHIB), Dogecoin (DOGE)

Amid fierce competition between Dogecoin (DOGE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB) for dominance in the meme coin market, a new outlook suggests that Dogecoin will significantly outperform Shiba Inu in terms of returns this year.

According to cryptocurrency-focused outlet NewsBTC on Feb. 25 (local time), an analysis by the machine learning algorithm of crypto analytics platform CoinCodex predicts that while both Dogecoin and Shiba Inu are likely to post double-digit growth this year, Dogecoin’s upward momentum will be far steeper. Although both assets are currently struggling to recover due to Bitcoin’s (BTC) weakness, they are expected to enter a full-fledged rebound phase after the first quarter.

For Shiba Inu, the projected highest price this year is $0.000009277. While this represents a roughly 56.90% increase from current levels, it remains more than 80% below its all-time high of $0.00008. Experts note that despite strong community support, it may take considerable time for Shiba Inu to recreate its past glory. In contrast, Dogecoin is expected to demonstrate much stronger recovery resilience than Shiba Inu.

The algorithm forecasts that Dogecoin will surge by 124.71% by the third quarter of this year. This implies that investors entering at current levels could see their holdings more than double in value. Although Dogecoin’s rebound may begin later than Shiba Inu’s, it is expected to accelerate toward the end of the year, solidifying its position as the leading meme coin. Dogecoin is also regarded as having stronger network fundamentals than Shiba Inu, with its hash rate remaining stable even during recent price corrections.

As concerns mount that Bitcoin could fall below $60,000, bearish sentiment has spread across the broader crypto market. Nevertheless, expectations among meme coin investors remain high. In particular, Dogecoin and Shiba Inu rank as the largest meme coins by market capitalization and are often the first choices for new investors entering the crypto market, leading to expectations of the fastest improvement in demand when the market rebounds.

In conclusion, Dogecoin is highly likely to outperform Shiba Inu in this year’s competition for returns. While Shiba Inu is expected to deliver gains of around 50%, Dogecoin could generate triple-digit returns, offering greater rewards to investors. Given the inherent volatility of meme coins, a cautious approach based on technical indicators and algorithmic forecasts is advised.

*Disclaimer: This article is for investment reference only and we are not responsible for any investment losses incurred based on it. The content should be interpreted solely for informational purposes.*