DOG Expands to Solana: A New Chapter for Bitcoin’s Top Memecoin

Say what you will about Bitcoin maximalists and die-hard Runes traders—they tend to be pretty consistent when it comes to questions of loyalty.

So why, then, did Bitcoin’s top meme coin just expand to Solana?

Earlier this week, the Bitcoin-based token DOG•GO•TO•THE•MOON—better known as DOG—announced plans to grow beyond its native network, via a two-way bridge to Solana whipped up by Mine Labs. On Wednesday the bridge went live, allowing Solana users to buy and sell wrapped tokens representing DOG coins locked on Bitcoin’s layer-1 network.

After months of depressed activity and flagging fortunes for Bitcoin’s meme coin ecosystem, could this move signal some sort of capitulation? Leonidas, DOG’s pseudonymous creator, adamantly disagrees.

> “This puts DOG buy buttons in front of more people,” Leonidas told Decrypt. “BTC did not become a $2 trillion asset by making people download a Bitcoin wallet. DOG is just following in the footsteps of BTC.”

According to Leonidas, he is merely bringing Bitcoin-related products to the center of the zeitgeist, as others have done before him. Previously, that center of action was centralized exchanges like Coinbase; now, it’s the vibrant Solana DeFi applications.

> I AM VERY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE #1 BITCOIN MEMECOIN $DOG WILL BE COMING TO SOLANA TOMORROW AT 10AM ET!!!!!
>
> YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TRADE $DOG AT LIGHTNING FAST 400 MILLISECOND SPEEDS WITH TXN FEES OF LESS THAN A PENNY
>
> BRIDGING $DOG BETWEEN BITCOIN AND SOLANA WILL BE SEAMLESS
> — Leonidas 🧡 $DOG (@LeonidasNFT) February 18, 2025

DOG’s introduction to Solana coincided with a particularly chaotic week for the meme coin-centric network. Recently, Argentine President Javier Milei found himself embroiled in controversy after endorsing a Solana token called Libra, which soared above $4 billion before collapsing. Also, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy gained attention for his involvement in various Solana coins.

It’s likely no coincidence that even President Donald Trump’s SEC announced a new crime-fighting unit dedicated to tackling crypto-related fraud just as DOG chose to join the Solana meme coin fray. Leonidas remarked that had the token expanded even a month ago, the narrative “would have fallen on deaf ears.”

> “Because of recent events around Libra, the Solana community is beginning to discuss the importance of fair launches—and DOG is contributing to that conversation,” Leonidas said. “People want to buy transparent and well-distributed meme coins like DOG more than ever.”

Unlike many popular meme coins, DOG has no official team, nor were any of its creators allocated earmarked portions of the token’s supply. The project’s ethos is decidedly pro-decentralization and skeptical of rival tokens that have gained mainstream exposure through exorbitant listing fees.

> You can now buy the #1 Bitcoin memecoin $DOG on Solana!
>
> Here is everything you need to know 🧵 $DOG was airdropped last year to the Bitcoin ecosystem in a volunteer-organized initiative that had no team allocation. $DOG stands for the Bitcoin ethos of fair launch, transparency,…
> — Leonidas 🧡 $DOG (@LeonidasNFT) February 19, 2025

Currently, DOG, which nearly reached a $1 billion market cap in December, is available only on select centralized exchanges—not on major platforms like Coinbase, Binance, or Robinhood. This limitation may be attributed to the complexities surrounding Bitcoin Runes, which have puzzled some traders, as well as DOG’s refusal to engage in the listing fees game.

For Leonidas, DOG’s expansion to Solana marks the beginning of a quest to reach a broader audience directly. He believes this aligns with Bitcoin’s core mission.

> “We will embrace an on-chain future where we don’t need to ask anyone for permission for DOG to be tradable,” the developer asserted.

Edited by Andrew Hayward