Shiba Inu's Market Cap Needs 240% Gain to Top Dogecoin by 2026, Experts Say

The battle for meme coin dominance has been ongoing for years, with Shiba Inu (SHIB) recently gaining attention as a potential contender to topple Dogecoin (DOGE). A recent survey tapped 14 financial experts to weigh in on whether SHIB could overtake DOGE in market capitalization by 2026. The results were not favorable for SHIB enthusiasts.

In 2021, SHIB briefly surpassed DOGE, with its market cap reaching $39 billion during the meme coin frenzy. However, DOGE quickly reclaimed its position and has maintained its lead ever since. As of 2025, SHIB has fallen to 17th place among cryptocurrencies by market cap, while DOGE remains comfortably at 8th place. Despite SHIB's dedicated community and ongoing development, the gap between the two remains significant.

According to the survey, 79% of experts believe that SHIB will never overtake DOGE. Another 14% were uncertain, leaving only 7% who still hold the belief that SHIB could potentially flip DOGE by 2026. Dr. Sathvik Vishwanath, CEO of Unocoin, was one of the most vocal skeptics, citing SHIB's massive supply of 589.25 trillion tokens compared to DOGE's 148.82 billion as a major obstacle. The sheer volume of SHIB tokens means that even a significant price surge would not be enough to close the gap with DOGE.

Currently, DOGE has a market cap of $24.62 billion, while SHIB's market cap stands at $7.3 billion. For SHIB to overtake DOGE, its market cap would need to increase by over 240%, assuming DOGE's market cap remains stable. While such a leap is not impossible in the volatile world of cryptocurrency, it would require an unprecedented level of investor enthusiasm and sustained momentum.

DOGE continues to benefit from its first-mover advantage, greater cultural recognition, and support from influential figures like Elon Musk. Its more manageable supply also gives it a long-term edge in the meme coin competition. In contrast, SHIB has a passionate community and ongoing projects like Shibarium, which aim to add real utility to the token. However, experts remain skeptical about SHIB's ability to defy the odds and overtake DOGE.

While SHIB has the spirit and a dedicated community, DOGE still holds the crown. Unless there is a dramatic shift in the market or a massive surge in SHIB's valuation, the dream of flipping DOGE may remain just that—a dream. The meme coin war is far from over, but the road ahead for SHIB is steep, and most experts believe it will remain in second place for the foreseeable future.