Dogecoin co-founder Billy Markus has opposed calls to end the network’s merged mining structure, arguing that removing the system would serve little purpose.
Summary
- Billy Markus says ending Dogecoin merged mining would be pointless as debate continues over security.
- Dogecoin has used merged mining since 2014, allowing Litecoin miners to secure both networks simultaneously.
- DOGE price gained as weekly TD Sequential signals and whale accumulation supported short-term market sentiment.
His comments come as members of the Dogecoin community debate whether the network should continue sharing mining infrastructure with Litecoin.
Responding to the discussion on X, Markus said Dogecoin should remain merge-mined and described moving away from the model as “dumb and pointless.” Markus, who no longer works on Dogecoin development, presented the statement as his personal view and said he has no investment interest in Scrypt-based altcoins.
Dogecoin merge mining remains at center of network debate
Merged mining allows miners to use the same computing work to secure more than one blockchain that runs on a compatible mining algorithm. Dogecoin uses Scrypt and has supported merged mining since 2014. Litecoin remains the main network mined alongside DOGE under the current setup.
Dogecoin’s official documentation says the 2014 change allowed Litecoin and other Scrypt miners to contribute to Dogecoin’s network while earning rewards from several blockchains using the same work. The system means miners do not need to divide their computing power between the participating networks.
The latest debate has focused on whether Dogecoin should continue relying on that model. Supporters argue that the current structure gives miners an economic reason to secure DOGE while already mining Litecoin. Critics of merged mining have raised questions about whether Dogecoin should depend so closely on another network’s mining activity.
Markus has rejected the idea that ending the arrangement would automatically improve Dogecoin. His position follows recent discussion among developers and community members over how merged mining works and what changing the system would mean for miners. No formal Dogecoin governance decision or confirmed network proposal to remove merged mining has been announced.
DOGE gains as analysts flag repeated buy signals
The mining debate comes as Dogecoin shows a modest price recovery. According to the latest crypto.news Dogecoin price data, DOGE traded near $0.0734 on July 21, up about 2.14% over 24 hours and 1.86% over seven days. The token remained down more than 11% over the previous month.
Crypto analyst Ali Martinez also pointed to improving technical signals. In a July 21 post, he said Dogecoin’s weekly TD Sequential had produced several consecutive buy signals, calling the setup unusual and suggesting it could precede a larger recovery. The indicator does not guarantee a price reversal, and DOGE still faces several nearby resistance levels.
As previously reported, the same TD Sequential indicator flashed a Dogecoin buy signal in June after DOGE fell 31% from $0.113 to $0.078. At that time, traders watched the $0.096-$0.100 range as an area DOGE needed to reclaim to weaken its wider bearish structure.
The latest price remains well below those levels. That leaves the current signals pointing to a possible short-term recovery rather than a confirmed change in the broader trend.
Whale accumulation adds support to DOGE recovery attempt
Large holders have also returned to the market. Dogecoin whales recently accumulated about 200 million DOGE worth roughly $14 million. Futures open interest also rose 3.74% to about $1.08 billion as derivatives trading activity increased.
That analysis placed near-term resistance around $0.0754 and $0.0797. DOGE needs to move above those areas to strengthen its recovery structure. The same market data showed major liquidation clusters close to the current price, which could keep short-term volatility elevated.
However, institutional demand has remained weaker. As previously reported, U.S. Dogecoin ETFs had gone one month without recording new inflows as of July 17. DOGE was trading near $0.071 at the time, with support around the same area.
The mixed data leaves Dogecoin with stronger whale activity and improving technical signals, while ETF demand and the longer-term price trend remain softer.
Network debate and price action remain separate issues
The discussion around merged mining concerns Dogecoin’s network security and mining structure rather than its short-term market price. Dogecoin’s current system lets Scrypt miners contribute to several compatible networks without splitting the same mining work, according to the project’s official documentation.
Markus has made his position clear, but he does not control Dogecoin development or network changes. Any major change to the mining system would require technical work and support from the wider ecosystem rather than approval from a single founder.
Meanwhile, DOGE traders are watching a separate set of signals. The token has moved higher, whales have accumulated additional coins and the weekly TD Sequential has produced repeated buy setups. Yet DOGE still needs to clear nearby resistance before the latest rebound develops into a stronger recovery.
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
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