Can Shiba Inu topple Dogecoin in 2026? Experts are divided

The battle for meme coin dominance has been going on for years — and now, the spotlight is on Shiba Inu again. Can SHIB do the impossible and flip Dogecoin again? That's the question posed in a recent survey by Finder, which included 14 financial experts to assess whether Shiba Inu can surpass Dogecoin in terms of market capitalization. Judgment? It doesn't look good for SHIB fans. Flashback: SHIB once flipped DOGE It's easy to forget, but back in 2021, Shiba Inu actually did the unthinkable—it briefly surpassed Dogecoin, with a market cap reaching $39 billion during the meme coin craze. But just as fast as the SHIB rate increased, DOGE regained the throne and has held on to this position ever since. By 2025, SHIB has dropped to 17th place among cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, while Dogecoin remains comfortable at 8th place. Despite SHIB's loyal community and continued growth, the gap is still quite large. What the experts really think So, what are the chances of SHIB flipping DOGE again? In Finder's survey, as many as 79% of experts said it would never happen. Another 14% were unsure. That leaves only 7%—one or two lone voices—still believing SHIB could overturn DOGE, likely by 2026. This is a bold and isolated statement. One of the biggest skeptics, Dr. Sathvik Vishwanath, CEO of Unocoin, did not hint. He points out that Shiba Inu's huge supply is its Achilles heel. With 589.25 trillion tokens in circulation compared to Dogecoin's 148.82 billion, SHIB is struggling with an uphill battle for price and market capitalization. Even if SHIB's price skyrockets, its large supply means it has to outperform DOGE a lot to catch up. The numbers don't lie Let's analyze. DOGE currently holds a market capitalization of $24.62 billion. SHIB? Only $7.3 billion. For Shiba Inu to overtake Dogecoin, its market cap would need to increase by more than 240%, assuming DOGE remains the same. That leap isn't impossible — we're used to seeing more exotic things in crypto — but it's a monumental task that requires an unprecedented wave of investor enthusiasm, sustained momentum, and maybe a bit of luck. Meanwhile, Dogecoin continues to benefit from a leading edge, greater cultural recognition, and strong backing from influencers like Elon Musk. It also has cleaner, more manageable supply, which analysts say gives it a long-term advantage in the meme money war. Will SHIB be able to overcome this difficulty? However, SHIB is not without its strengths. It has one of the most passionate communities in cryptocurrency, ongoing projects like Shibarium, and a team determined to move beyond the "meme coin" label. It's no longer just hype—SHIB is slowly building real utility. But is that enough? Experts say no. For now, SHIB may have spirit, but DOGE still holds the throne. And unless something dramatically changes in the market — or a massive bull run causes SHIB's valuation to skyrocket — the dream of toppling Dogecoin may remain just a dream. Final Thoughts Shiba Inu's quest to dethrone Dogecoin is far from over—but don't expect fireworks right now. Most experts believe that SHIB will remain in second place for the foreseeable future. Whether the underdog can make a historic comeback depends on factors beyond market hype. One thing is clear: the meme money war isn't over yet, but SHIB's road ahead is steeper than ever.