Shiba Inu (SHIB) price has been struggling for years, with the token now down more than 90% from its 2021 all-time high. What was once one of the most explosive memecoin rallies in crypto history has slowly turned into a prolonged period of weakness, leaving many long-time holders questioning whether the project has lost its direction.
Even in 2025, SHIB price continued to drift lower, shedding over 60% from January through December and reinforcing the idea that momentum has not meaningfully returned.
This extended decline has already placed pressure on confidence across the ecosystem, yet a new development involving K9 Finance DAO has intensified concerns. A long-standing Shibarium partner is now publicly questioning commitment and responsiveness from the Shiba Inu team, and the timing could not be worse for sentiment around the SHIB token.
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SHIB Price Pressure and the Growing Concerns
SHIB price has been fighting against constant downward pressure. A major development came from K9 Finance DAO, Shibarium’s official liquid staking partner, after it published a detailed statement on its official X page outlining communication issues with the SHIB team.
K9 Finance explained that its team followed every instruction from Shiba Inu leadership regarding the Shibarium bridge exploit that occurred in September 2025. Assets like ETH, SHIB, and over $700,000 worth of KNINE were drained after attackers used a flash loan technique to breach the bridge. K9 Finance stressed that its developers worked in good faith for several months, using private channels to work toward compensation for affected users.
Over the past several months, K9 Finance DAO has followed every step requested by the Shib team regarding the Shibarium bridge hack and the process to make affected users whole. Throughout this period, we have operated in good faith and maintained multiple private communication…
— K9 Finance DAO (@K9finance) December 11, 2025
SHIB Token Ecosystem Faces Tension With a Core Partner
K9 Finance DAO noted that communication with the Shib team eventually faded, despite constant attempts to resolve the matter behind closed doors. The organization stated that silence forced it to address the issue publicly to uphold transparency and keep its own holders informed. This situation created an unexpected tension point within the SHIB ecosystem, raising concerns about whether operational challenges could be contributing indirectly to market sentiment around Shiba Inu.
Shiba Inu token remains central to Shibarium’s identity, so any instability around partnerships naturally influences confidence. K9 Finance made clear that this announcement was not designed to stir conflict, explaining that responsible governance required clarity after months of stalled communication. They emphasized their readiness to collaborate if the situation is resolved, yet the uncertainty adds another layer to the narrative surrounding Shiba Inu.
Shiba Inu Team Silence Raises Questions Around Shibarium Issue Urgency
K9 Finance DAO’s statement makes clear that the Shiba Inu team has been largely silent in recent months despite ongoing discussions around the Shibarium bridge exploit. After following every step requested and maintaining multiple private communication channels, K9 Finance reports receiving no further guidance or response.
For an incident involving user losses and a core infrastructure partner, this lack of visible follow-through suggests the issue may not be receiving the level of urgency expected from a project of Shiba Inu’s size. In mature ecosystems, prolonged silence often signals deprioritization, raising concerns that leadership may not be treating Shibarium’s unresolved issues with the seriousness required to sustain long-term trust.
SHIB Decline Meets a Deadline From K9 Finance
K9 Finance DAO set January 6, 2026 as the final date for full and verifiable restitution for victims of the Shibarium bridge incident. They explained that failure to reach that outcome could trigger a community vote to determine whether continued operations on Shibarium align with long-term ecosystem health. This decision has created urgency, as the possibility of a major partner reconsidering its position introduces a new risk factor for SHIB price perceptions.
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Shiba Inu token has already struggled to maintain investor confidence through the year’s drawdown. A scenario where a crucial staking partner questions the viability of continued collaboration adds pressure to an asset already weighed down by extended price weakness.
Shiba Inu price movements often reflect broader confidence in the project’s structure, and this situation directly touches the operational backbone of Shibarium.
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