Dogecoin
The internet shock site Goatse.cx has become a promoter of the soaring cryptocurrency dogecoin.

On the face of it, there doesn't seem to be much in the way of shared ideals between the cute, meme-based cryptocurrency dogecoin which is based on kindness and generosity, and Goatse, one of the most infamous shock sites on the internet which featured on its homepage a picture of a naked man bent over and stretching his anus to approximately the size of his fist.

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But it seems that some sort of alliance has been formed, with the Goatse.cx website being repurposed to advertise the soaring cryptocurrency. The site now features an embedded YouTube which is present by Kirk Johnson who claims to be the attorney to Goatse.cx.

Johnson claims that "according to the binding legal rulings handed down by the Christmas Island domain registrar we are unable to show the Goatse image." Johnson says the case cannot be appealed so the operator of the site had no option but to remove the image.

Good news

The owner was "devastated by the news" according to Johnson but there is some good news.

"I told [Goatse's owner] to align Goatse.cx with the most powerful financial force on the internet, dogecoin. Dogecoin is an online currency like bitcoin that can give you everything you've ever dreamed of: money, houses, girls, the good life," Johnson says

There are of course a number of questions raised by this video.

The main one being the assertion that investing in dogecoin will "give you everything you've ever dream of", as the stated aim of the cryptocurrency – according to its founders and the huge community which has sprung up around it – is not to help people amass huge financial rewards, but to become the internet currency "perfect for micro-transactions and tipping people you think are awesome," as co-founder Jackson Palmer told IBTimes UK last week.

Official shibe

The website invites visitors to enter their name and email address to sign up for more information about the new venture, though what exactly that is, is not clear.

Johnson says: "Goatse.cx just inked a deal making it an official shibe of dogecoin." But aside from mispronouncing the word 'shibe' Johnson doesn't elaborate on what the deal entails.

Signing up for the email, you get sent an initial message giving you details about the cryptocurrency and links to online resources including the official dogecoin website and the dogecoin thread on reddit.

Goatse is an internet phenomenon which has been around since the end of the 1990s and was one of the original internet shock sites. It was taken down in 2004 after the domain registrars in Christmas Island – where the website was registered – ruled the image could no longer be displayed on the site – though multiple mirrors of the site still exist.

While some of the dogecoin community comenting on the story on Reddit are warying of aligning themselves with the Goatse.cx brand, others see it as more publicity and therefore welcome the unexpected partnership.