Japanese Tech Giant Rakuten to Give Away Shiba Inu (SHIB) to 44 Million Users for Dog Photos
Analysis
Price Impact
MedRakuten, a major japanese tech company, is giving away shib to 44 million users. this increases visibility and potential user adoption, but the actual amount distributed might not significantly impact the overall market cap in the short term.
Trustworthiness
HighPrice Direction
BullishIncreased exposure to a large user base and the ongoing trend of shib being integrated into retail ecosystems (like mercari) as a spending mechanism or loyalty currency can lead to positive price pressure.
Time Effect
ShortThe campaign itself is a short-term event, and the immediate price impact will likely be observed in the days and weeks following the announcement as users engage with the promotion.
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Cover image via depositphotos.com Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available. Japanese crypto exchange Rakuten Wallet has launched its "Photo Contest 2026" campaign, under which it will distribute Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Dogecoin (DOGE) tokens among its 44 million users for posting dog photos on X. The corporation will select 11 winners, each of whom will receive 11,111,111 SHIB, worth about 10,000 yen, while the grand prize winner will receive 1,111 DOGE, worth about 18,000 yen. Advertisement Local investors see small SHIB and DOGE purchases as a form of "digital merchandising" — collecting penny-priced digital items inside familiar apps. Against this backdrop, corporations are clearly monetizing audience interest by tying cryptocurrency to everyday purchases. Rakuten Wallet announcing new X campaign featuring Shiba Inu (SHIB), Source: X HOT Stories Bitcoin Whale Wallets See Major Rebound Hyperliquid (HYPE), Bitcoin (BTC), XRP and Dogecoin (DOGE) Price Analysis for June 17: Reclaiming the Bullish Narrative By integrating SHIB into the Rakuten Pay network, the asset transitions from a speculative token into a spending mechanism usable across 5 million retail points. Advertisement How Shiba Inu coin became a marketing tool for Japanese crypto services The campaign continues a shift in Japan's tightly regulated crypto market, where retail giants are turning ultra-cheap tokens into a gamification tool. This massive commercial push became viable only after the Japan Virtual and Crypto Assets Exchange Association (JVCEA) designated SHIB as a compliant "Green List" asset in November 2025. In this environment, Rakuten Wallet's integration intensifies competition with marketplace Mercari, which earlier this month also added SHIB trading through its Mercoin unit , giving the C2C platform's 23 million monthly users the ability to buy the token directly with loyalty points or proceeds from secondhand sales, starting from just 1 yen. This micro-transaction model solves a critical entry barrier for risk-averse retail users. You Might Also Like Wed, 06/17/2026 - 12:46 Only 7 Shiba Inu (SHIB) Addresses Are Selling, Data Shows By Arman Shirinyan Advertisement According to Mercoin's financial statements, out of 14 million crypto accounts opened in Japan, 4 million, or about 30%, belong to Mercari, and for 85% of these clients, the transaction marked their market debut. SHIB's breakthrough into the Mercari and Rakuten ecosystems effectively disrupts the crypto industry's classic business model, as retail giants have turned the meme coin into a corporate loyalty currency, taking away traditional crypto exchanges' monopoly on attracting mass-market users. #Shiba Inu #Shiba Inu (SHIB) News