Atsuko Sato, famous for raising Kabosu, the Shiba Inu behind Dogecoin, has adopted a new rescue dog named Cocoro and launched an official meme coin, $COCORO, on the Base blockchain. The token soared to a $100 million fully diluted valuation (FDV) within an hour of its debut. This achievement generated a buzz, although there is skepticism in light of reports of a suspected hack into the X account of Sato. Partnering with Own The Doge, Sato hopes to raise money for charity while reclaiming control over her dogs’ legacies.
A New Chapter for Sato and Cocoro
Sato launched Cocoro, a rescued black Shiba Inu dog aged 10, in a X post on March 8, 2025. She presented this cozy unveiling with the token $COCORO, which she developed in collaboration with Own The Doge, the group with IP rights to the intellectual property of the Doge meme. “I absolutely refuse to let my images be used without permission to make money!” Sato wrote. She expressed her intent to protect her dogs’ images and support children and animals globally through this trusted collaboration.
Build on Base, a layer-2 Ethereum network created by Coinbase, $COCORO rides the wave of low fees and scalability. The debut is vastly different compared to the debut of Dogecoin (DOGE/USD), which began in 2013 without the approval of Sato, and other unauthorized tokens, including Neiro. Cocoro is with Neiro, one of Sato’s dogs, close to a year after the death of Kabosu in May of 2024, which brought the cryptocurrency community together in mourning.
The Successful Rise of $COCORO
$COCORO’s debut was striking. It hit a $100 million FDV within an hour before settling at a $46 million market cap by Sunday, with a token price of $0.046. Unlike many meme coins fueled solely by hype, $COCORO ties its value to Sato’s vision, with Own The Doge ensuring IP clarity and charitable proceeds. “We are big fans of what Base is doing for the ecosystem,” said Smoke, the group’s pseudonymous CEO. He praised the network’s affordability and scale.
This structured approach aims for fairness and sustainability, setting $COCORO apart from speculative predecessors. However, its rapid ascent has drawn both enthusiasm and scrutiny, heightened by unconfirmed reports of a breach in Sato’s X account.
Excellent Tokenomics With Caution
$COCORO’s tokenomics reflect careful planning:
- Contract Address: 0x937a1cFAF0A3d9f5Dc4D0927F72ee5e3e5F82a00
- Total Supply: 1 billion tokens
- Circulating Supply: 1 billion tokens
- Liquidity Pool: 75% (750 million tokens) is locked. Of this, 5% (50 million tokens) launched in an initial pool at a $1 million FDV to prevent manipulation, with fees split between Sato and a DAO.
- Airdrops: 20% (200 million tokens) reward DOG and NEIRO holders, strengthening community ties.
- DAO Reserve: 5% (50 million tokens) supports future development and initiatives.
This is a speed change for the wild origins of Dogecoin. The airdrop strategy is leveraging DOG’s over 1 million owners at Base, while the treasury in the DAO points towards long-term objectives, perhaps new features or bigger charity initiatives.
Market Performance: Volatility and Ripple Effects
As of March 10, $COCORO trades at $0.048, with a $48 million market cap, up 4.3% in the last 24 hours, per CoinGecko. Its trading volume reached $3.2 million, indicating steady interest despite dropping from its $100 million FDV peak. This pattern reflects typical meme coin volatility, but its mission and backing offer stability.
The launch impacted related tokens. DOG, linked to the original Doge meme, rose 25% to $0.012, driven by Sato’s enduring draw. Meanwhile, NEIRO, tied to her other dog, fell 14% to $0.085, weakened by its unofficial status despite a DAO vote for support. Dogecoin, at $0.13 with an $18.5 billion market cap, saw a 2.1% dip, largely unaffected by $COCORO but a benchmark for the sector.
Broader market players like Coinbase (COIN, down 0.8%) and Robinhood (HOOD, down 3.35%) provide meme coin access. ETFs such as ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) and Valkyrie Bitcoin Miners ETF (WGMI) cater to diversified crypto investors. $COCORO’s niche, rooted in Sato’s story, distinguishes it, though its scale remains small.
Community Reactions: Hype Meets Caution
The crypto community’s response is mixed. On X, fans called $COCORO “a meme coin with a soul.” One user wrote, “Sato’s taking back her legacy, love this!” Others raised concerns over the hack rumors. “Her X account’s been sketchy before. How do we know this is legit?” a skeptic asked. The blog post’s consistency with her X activity offers some assurance, but no official clarification has silenced doubts.
Trading reflects this split. Early adopters fueled the initial surge, while others wait for confirmation. “I’m not buying until it’s 100% her,” one X user noted. Despite the uncertainty, $COCORO’s $3.2 million daily volume shows resilience, though addressing the hack issue remains critical.
Sato’s Legacy and the Meme Coin Future
Sato’s path, from the accidental popularity of Kabosu to the intentional token of Cocoro, demonstrates her growth. Dogecoin’s popularity left her on the sidelines, and the unofficial popularity of NEIRO exacerbated the situation. Now, with Own The Doge, she’s building a system where meme coins are a positive. Kabosu’s death united fans around the world; Cocoro’s birth assures rebirth, merging nostalgia with action.
Follow-through is what success is built on. Will $COCORO hold its own in a saturated market? Will the treasury in the DAO drive actual advancement? The early signs, including its tokenomics, $48 million market cap, and Sato backing, are positive. Meme coins live and die by community trust, however, and the hack specter may erode the latter.
Looking Ahead
$COCORO, the crypto-philanthropy hybrid bred by the perseverance of Sato, is remaking the face of meme coins. Cocoro the rescue pup, with Sato and Neiro in tow, is oblivious to the buzz, the perfect mascot for this trailblazer project.
