Shiba

2024

Kusama

Shiba Inu

Shytoshi Kusama, the enigmatic lead developer of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project, made his first public appearance today at the Infinity Venture Summit (IVS) 2024 held in Kyoto. The venue, abuzz with Web3 enthusiasts and developers, served as the backdrop for what many expected to be a revelatory moment. However, Kusama’s choice of attire—a dual-masked ensemble complete with a hood—ensured his physical features remained hidden, thereby preserving his anonymity. 
<h2 id="shiba-inu-lead-dev-remains-anonymous">Shiba Inu Lead Dev Remains Anonymous</h2> 
Kusama’s outfit drew immediate attention for its dramatic flair: the primary mask resembled that of a plague doctor, covering the upper face, while a secondary mask obscured the lower facial features, leaving only his eyes visible through narrow slits. This costume mirrored his previously stated desire to maintain privacy due to <a href="https://bitcoinist.com/shiba-inu-lead-dev-sheds-shy-quiet-image/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">his “shy and quiet” nature</a>. 
Despite the physical barrier between Kusama and the event attendees, his presence was palpable. Videos circulating online, particularly from a Japanese SHIB community member known on Twitter as @kuro_9696_9696, showcased Kusama engaging with participants at the SHIB booth. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> 
 Shytoshi!!<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f525.png" alt="🔥" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;">Shytoshi!!<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f525.png" alt="🔥" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f525.png" alt="🔥" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f525.png" alt="🔥" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;"> 
 動画提供元 : <a href="https://twitter.com/riri_shibarmy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@riri_shibarmy</a> 
 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E6%9F%B4%E7%8A%AC%E3%82%B3%E3%82%A4%E3%83%B3?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#柴犬コイン</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SHIB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SHIB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IVS2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#IVS2024</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IVSCrypto?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#IVSCrypto</a> <a href="https://t.co/z5rweQoCKV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/z5rweQoCKV</a> 
 — KURO<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f43e.png" alt="🐾" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;">SHIBARMY JPN<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f1ef-1f1f5.png" alt="🇯🇵" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;"> (@kuro_9696_9696) <a href="https://twitter.com/kuro_9696_9696/status/1809116441104560308?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">July 5, 2024</a>
</blockquote> 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> 
 私達はこのフレンドリーなShytoshiさんが大好きです<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f970.png" alt="🥰" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1faf6.png" alt="🫶" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;"> 
 動画提供元 : <a href="https://twitter.com/riri_shibarmy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@riri_shibarmy</a> 
 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E6%9F%B4%E7%8A%AC%E3%82%B3%E3%82%A4%E3%83%B3?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#柴犬コイン</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SHIB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SHIB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IVS2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#IVS2024</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IVSCrypto?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#IVSCrypto</a> <a href="https://t.co/nRnkntEdkC" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/nRnkntEdkC</a> 
 — KURO<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f43e.png" alt="🐾" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;">SHIBARMY JPN<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f1ef-1f1f5.png" alt="🇯🇵" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;"> (@kuro_9696_9696) <a href="https://twitter.com/kuro_9696_9696/status/1809152643002147308?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">July 5, 2024</a>
</blockquote> 
These clips have since become a focal point for the Shiba Inu online community, illustrating the curiosity and fervor that Kusama’s appearance, albeit concealed, has ignited. Amid the spectacle, WeCreate3, a student-led Web3 initiative, managed to interact briefly with Kusama, discussing potential collaborations with Shiba Inu. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> 
 Thank you! <a href="https://twitter.com/ShytoshiKusama?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@ShytoshiKusama</a> . As a student web3 community in Japan, we are looking forward to collaborating with SHIB! To the moon!<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f680.png" alt="🚀" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f680.png" alt="🚀" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f680.png" alt="🚀" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;"> 
 We are the student SHIB army<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f525.png" alt="🔥" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f525.png" alt="🔥" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SHIBARMY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SHIBARMY</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SHIBCommunity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SHIBCommunity</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SHIB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SHIB</a> <a href="https://t.co/wpA4YhITMQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/wpA4YhITMQ</a> 
 — WeCreate3 (@We_Create_3) <a href="https://twitter.com/We_Create_3/status/1809111382341923182?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">July 5, 2024</a>
</blockquote> 
The decision to remain masked has, predictably, elicited a gamut of reactions from the SHIB community. Some attendees and online commentators commended Kusama for honoring his commitment to appear in person, viewing it as a bold step towards greater engagement with the community. Conversely, others voiced their frustration, arguing that the act of hiding behind a mask at a public event contradicts the principles of transparency and openness that many expected following his last statement via X where he announced his “first ever meet and greet.” 
This incident has reignited discussions about the nature of leadership and transparency within decentralized projects. Kusama’s predecessors, including Shiba Inu’s original creator Ryoshi, also chose anonymity, a tradition that has shaped the project’s culture and operational ethos. Since taking over from <a href="https://bitcoinist.com/shiba-inu-founder-ryoshi-wallets-emptied/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Ryoshi</a> in 2022, Kusama has steered Shiba Inu through various phases of development and market fluctuations, all while his true identity remained cloaked in mystery. 
In his pre-event tweets, Kusama hinted at a desire to shift away from his reclusive tendencies to take on a more assertive role in promoting Web3. Yet, his continued anonymity at IVS 2024 suggests a complex balancing act between personal privacy and public leadership responsibilities. 
At the IVS2024, Kusama’s actions mirrored his previous behavior. Last year in August, he had promised to deliver a speech at the <a href="https://bitcoinist.com/shiba-inu-shibarium-launch-today-day-1-recap/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">ETH Toronto</a> event while unveiling Shibarium. However, instead of appearing in person, he opted to present a pre-recorded speech that was processed using AI software. 
At press time, SHIB traded at $0.00001378. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-308912" src="https://bitcoinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SHIBUSD_2024-07-05_14-06-07.png?resize=1024%2C473" alt="Shiba Inu price" width="1024" height="473" srcset="https://bitcoinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SHIBUSD_2024-07-05_14-06-07.png?resize=1024%2C473?w=3628 3628w, https://bitcoinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SHIBUSD_2024-07-05_14-06-07.png?resize=1024%2C473?w=640 640w, https://bitcoinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SHIBUSD_2024-07-05_14-06-07.png?resize=1024%2C473?w=768 768w, https://bitcoinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SHIBUSD_2024-07-05_14-06-07.png?resize=1024%2C473?w=980 980w, https://bitcoinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SHIBUSD_2024-07-05_14-06-07.png?resize=1024%2C473?w=1536 1536w, https://bitcoinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SHIBUSD_2024-07-05_14-06-07.png?resize=1024%2C473?w=2048 2048w, https://bitcoinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SHIBUSD_2024-07-05_14-06-07.png?resize=1024%2C473?w=750 750w, https://bitcoinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SHIBUSD_2024-07-05_14-06-07.png?resize=1024%2C473?w=1140 1140w, https://bitcoinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SHIBUSD_2024-07-05_14-06-07.png?resize=1024%2C473?w=3000 3000w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" data-recalc-dims="1">

Shiba Inu’s Shytoshi Kusama Makes Public Debut – But Not As Expected

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