Paulo Vidal, a Dogecoin Foundation developer, has created a new protocol that transforms DOGE addresses into International Bank Account Numbers (IBANs). This development could make it easier to link Dogecoin with conventional financial systems, offering a new level of usability for both crypto enthusiasts and mainstream players. While the protocol is still in its early stages, Vidal has shared updates on its developments and insights into its core features. 

Dogecoin Dev Introduces Banking IBAN For DOGE

Dogecoin could be taking a step closer to mainstream financial integration as Vidal unveils an innovative protocol that allows addresses tied to the meme coin to function like bank-validated IBANs. Announced on X this week, the Dogecoin developer explained that his effort to simplify Dogecoin addresses has evolved into a D-IBAN system fully compliant with ISO 13616-1:2020 Standard. 

Vidal has explained that the D-IBAN protocol allows Dogecoin addresses to be formatted in a way that banking systems can easily validate, effectively bridging the gap between cryptocurrency and traditional finance. He explained that the system supports multiple address types, including P2PKH, P2SH, P2WPKH, and time-locked addresses, automatically detecting the type from the address prefix. Additionally, it automatically detects the address type and uses the same MOD-97-10 Checksum algorithm used by banks worldwide. 

The Dogecoin developer notes that the D-IBAN encoding is fully reversible, allowing users to convert back and forth without losing any data. The protocol also formats the IBAN into standard four-character groups for readability, making DOGE addresses more user-friendly and appearing bank-compliant. 

Beyond the core D-IBAN functionality, Vidal has also introduced playful and practical extensions of the system. The DogeMoji protocol converts addresses into memorable, visually appealing emoji sequences—ideal for social media or QR codes. 

The second DogeWords protocol encodes addresses into short, positive word sequences that are easy to read and remember, while maintaining complete reversibility and ensuring accuracy through validation. Both D-IBAN features are designed to make Dogecoin easier to share and interact with in creative ways. 

Community Reacts To D-IBAN Invention

Members of the crypto community who read about Vidal’s new D-IBAN protocol responded with a mix of enthusiasm, curiosity, and caution. Crypto analyst Astro noted that sending fiat to a crypto address via IBAN would require compliance with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) rules, KYC verification, and potentially obtaining a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license. 

Astro warned that integration with traditional banks could undermine the decentralized narrative of blockchain technology, contending that banks and crypto have inherently conflicting interests. A community member also highlighted that creating a mathematically valid IBAN from a Dogecoin address does not guarantee that banks will process actual transactions. He stated that only IBANs issued by authorized institutions are recognized for fund transfers. 

Vidal addressed these concerns by emphasizing that the D-IBAN protocol is intended to provide optional banking integration rather than enforce it. He argued that banks could handle Dogecoin in a familiar format while users retain full control of their wallets, preserving self-custody and upholding the core principles of decentralization.

On September 19, 1982, Carnegie Mellon University computer science research assistant professor Scott Fahlman posted a message to the university’s bulletin board software that would later come to shape how people communicate online. His proposal: use :-) and :-( as markers to distinguish jokes from serious comments. While Fahlman describes himself as “the inventor… or at least one of the inventors” of what would later be called the smiley face emoticon, the full story reveals something more interesting than a lone genius moment.

The whole episode started three days earlier when computer scientist Neil Swartz posed a physics problem to colleagues on Carnegie Mellon’s “bboard,” which was an early online message board. The discussion thread had been exploring what happens to objects in a free-falling elevator, and Swartz presented a specific scenario involving a lit candle and a drop of mercury.

That evening, computer scientist Howard Gayle responded with a facetious message titled “WARNING!” He claimed that an elevator had been “contaminated with mercury” and suffered “some slight fire damage” due to a physics experiment. Despite clarifying posts noting the warning was a joke, some people took it seriously.

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