A dispute has emerged within the Shiba Inu community over how closely affiliated accounts represent the ecosystem. Tensions rose after a widely followed Shiba Inu–branded X account promoted a separate token, prompting concerns about credibility and direction. Several ecosystem participants now question whether such activity aligns with Shiba Inu’s original mission. The backlash reflects broader unease about influence, trust, and messaging in large crypto communities. Shiba Inu Account Promotion Triggers Community Backlash According to posts shared on X, the account known as @shibtoken, often viewed as the official Shiba Inu X account, amplified a November 22 message from Hachiko (HACHI), a Solana-based token. The promoted tweet announced a new smart contract address, identified as x95HN…bWKyp. Community members quickly focused on how the promotion framed the announcement. The Shiba Inu account highlighted similarities between the two projects’ contract identifiers. HACHI’s new address begins with x95, while Shiba Inu’s contract address also starts with 0x95. The comparison created the impression of a direct link between HACHI and SHIB. The post also included an image of two dogs, Hachiko and Shiba Inu. Critics argued that the visual reinforced the suggestion of an association. Soon after, Oscar Token, a Shiba Inu ecosystem project, joined others in criticizing the promotion. In a reaction post, the Oscar Token team said the account no longer represents the ecosystem’s original focus. Oscar stated that the Shiba Inu account had “lost its way,” reflecting broader frustration among holders who saw the promotion as misleading. Past Promotions Raise Questions Over Official Status The controversy revived earlier debates about the role of @shibtoken. This was not the first time the account promoted projects outside the Shiba Inu ecosystem. In November 2024, the account teased a relationship with Shiro Neko, a cat-themed token, after the project burned more than 5 billion SHIB. By December 2024, the account went further. It promoted a dual-staking initiative that allowed users to stake SHIRO tokens for SHIB rewards. That activity led many users to believe Shiro Neko had official ecosystem status. However, the Shiba Inu fraud alert channel Susbarium later challenged that assumption. Susbarium clarified that Shiro Neko had no affiliation with the Shiba Inu ecosystem. The channel also warned users that @shibtoken does not represent an official Shiba Inu handle. It urged the community to avoid treating promotions from the account as endorsements. Despite repeated warnings, @shibtoken continues to influence market perception. Launched in February 2021, the account has built a following of about 3.9 million users. Most followers actively participate in the Shiba Inu community. Early on, the account served as a central source for ecosystem updates. That history caused many users to interpret its posts as authoritative.
