Dogecoin was created in December 2013 by software engineers Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer. Inspired by the viral “Doge” Shiba Inu meme, they set out to build a fun, approachable cryptocurrency that didn’t take itself quite so seriously.

In 2025, Dogecoin is still fun — but it’s also useful. A few of its real-world roles:

1. Internet tipping & micro-rewards

Dogecoin became the tipping currency on social platforms relatively early. It’s ideal for micro-transactions: fast confirmation times, tiny fees, and a culture that celebrates “much generous, very tip.” Researchers and industry writers routinely highlight DOGE’s role in tipping on Reddit, Twitter/X, and Twitch. The Standard

2. Retail payments & merchant adoption

Dogecoin has quietly grown into a real payment option:

Over 3,100+ businesses worldwide accepted DOGE as of March 2025 — up from 1,760 in 2023.

Notable names include Tesla (for merch), Newegg, Twitch, and AirBaltic, as well as 1,200+ online retailers in the US via crypto payment gateways.

DOGE accounted for 6.3% of total crypto payments processed by BitPay in Q1 2025. CoinLaw

That’s a huge signal: Dogecoin isn’t just a speculative meme, it’s a live, widely used medium of exchange.

3. Everyday & emerging uses

Recent overviews of DOGE use cases point to:

Gig economy payments — freelancers getting paid in DOGE instantly, with low fees and no banking friction.

Charity & crowdfunding — the same culture that funded Doge4Water back in the day now fuels ongoing donation drives and creator crowdfunding.

DeFi and cross-chain bridges — DOGE now participates in DeFi ecosystems via wrapped or bridged versions, extending its reach beyond the base chain. 

In short: DOGE started as a joke, but its usability and community made it sticky.

Mining Dogecoin: From Standalone to Merged Mining Powerhouse

Originally, Dogecoin was mined on its own chain like many other proof-of-work coins. But early on, that model showed its limits — especially when hash-power drifted away and security concerns grew.

The big turning point: merge-mining with Litecoin

In 2014, after community debate and concern about network security, Dogecoin adopted auxiliary proof-of-work (AuxPoW) and became merge-mined with Litecoin at block 317,337.

Why ViaBTC Has Become a Go-To Pool for LTC + DOGE Merge-Mining

ViaBTC is one of the leading mining pools for proof-of-work coins like BTC, BCH, LTC, and DOGE, and it has leaned heavily into merged mining for Scrypt miners.

1. Deep support for merged mining

ViaBTC enthusiastically supports merged mining of LTC with DOGE and multiple aux coins (including BELLS, LKY, PEP, and others). Miners who point their LTC hashrate to ViaBTC can earn:

LTC as the base reward, plus

DOGE (and other aux coins) on top — with no extra power or hardware required. support.viabtc.com

A 2024 ViaBTC analysis found that merged mining of LTC + DOGE + BELLS increased LTC miners’ revenue by about 17%, with DOGE alone accounting for roughly 75% of that extra income. viabtc.net

In other words: for many Scrypt miners, DOGE isn’t a side bonus anymore — it’s the main driver of profit.

2. Flexible payout models (PPS+ / PPLNS)

ViaBTC allows LTC miners to participate in merged mining using either the PPS+ or PPLNS payment methods. LTC and DOGE rewards are then distributed according to each miner’s hashrate contribution, and all earned coins are visible, trackable, and withdrawable from the same dashboard. viabtc.com

That combination of:

predictable payouts for those who want stability (PPS+),

higher potential returns for those who prefer variance (PPLNS), and

automatic DOGE rewards

makes ViaBTC particularly attractive for mid-size operations and serious hobbyists looking to maximize their ROI.

3. One setup, many streams

ViaBTC’s own tutorials emphasize how simple merged mining is for LTC miners:

• Configure your Scrypt ASIC rig to point at ViaBTC’s LTC pool.
• Choose PPS+ or PPLNS.
• Start mining.
• Watch LTC + DOGE (and other aux coins) accumulate in your account automatically. support.viabtc.com

For miners, it feels less like a complex multi-coin strategy and more like “turn on miner → get paid in more stuff.”

How Miners Can Ride the Next Wave of DOGE

If you’re a miner, Dogecoin’s story in 2025 looks something like this:

You buy or operate Scrypt ASICs primarily to mine Litecoin.

You point that hashrate at a pool like ViaBTC that supports LTC + DOGE merged mining.

You earn LTC as usual, but now DOGE becomes a meaningful share of your daily revenue — sometimes the majority of your profit depending on market conditions. viabtc.net

So while the internet still jokes that “Dogecoin is a meme,” miners know a different side of the story:

DOGE strengthens network security through merged mining.

DOGE improves miner revenue without extra power usage.

DOGE powers real transactions, tipping, and payments across thousands of businesses worldwide.

Put simply: Dogecoin is the meme that pays the bills.

And for miners who want to capture that upside efficiently — while keeping their setup simple — ViaBTC’s merged mining support for LTC + DOGE is one of the most straightforward, battle-tested ways to do it.

Disclaimer:

The opinions expressed in this article are for informational purposes only. This article does not constitute an endorsement of any of the products and services discussed or investment, financial, or trading advice. Qualified professionals should be consulted prior to making financial decisions.