Shiba Inu Holders Warned as Hundreds of Ethereum Tokens Use TREAT Ticker
Shiba Inu holders have been urged to verify token contract addresses after a community member warned that hundreds of Ethereum-based tokens use the same TREAT ticker associated with the Shiba Inu ecosystem.
Mazrael said Ethereum alone has more than 366 tokens carrying the TREAT ticker, arguing that the ticker itself is not sufficient to determine whether a token is the official Shiba Inu ecosystem asset. The warning followed an X post highlighting two Ethereum tokens with the same name and ticker.
The overlap creates a potential source of confusion for users searching for TREAT through wallets, token lists or trading platforms. Mazrael urged users to check both the blockchain network and contract address before buying, transferring or otherwise interacting with a token.
TREAT Contract Addresses Matter More Than the Ticker
The official Shiba Inu ecosystem TREAT token is available on both Ethereum and Shibarium, with a separate contract address for each network. Users therefore need to confirm that the address corresponds to the intended network and asset rather than relying solely on the token's name.
One unrelated Ethereum token carrying the TREAT name reportedly dates back to January 13, 2023. Despite sharing the same name and ticker, it has no stated connection to the Shiba Inu ecosystem.
The age of a token also does not establish its affiliation. An older or newer listing can use the same ticker as an established cryptocurrency without being associated with the same project.
For that reason, a familiar TREAT label appearing in a wallet or search result should not be treated as proof of authenticity. The contract address provides the more specific identifier for determining which token a user is interacting with.
Shibarium x402 Update Expands Payment Options
Mazrael also highlighted an update involving x402 payment infrastructure on Shibarium, the layer-2 network associated with Shiba Inu.
The x402 standard enables clients to pay servers for digital services, including application access, paywalled content and requests handled by automated agents. According to Mazrael, Shibarium has deployed Permit2, an x402 proxy and SignatureValidator at addresses corresponding to those used on other supported networks.
He identified Ethereum, Base and Polygon among the networks using the same canonical addresses.
Mazrael said existing x402 clients can operate on Shibarium's chain 109 without requiring developers to create custom implementations. The update relates to payment infrastructure rather than token verification, meaning the appearance of TREAT as a payment option does not by itself establish which TREAT token is being used.
Many x402 facilitators support USDC payments through EIP-3009, while the Permit2 route can accommodate other ERC-20 assets. Mazrael said AI agents could use the route to make payments with SHIB, TREAT or wrapped BONE.
The development could allow Shibarium applications to support a broader selection of payment assets, including tokens associated with the Shiba Inu ecosystem. However, users handling TREAT still need to verify the contract address and network.
For Shiba Inu holders and developers, the distinction is straightforward: the ticker identifies a token label, while the contract address and blockchain network identify the specific asset behind that label.
Writer: Marcus RenfieldCrypto Market Analyst & Onchain WriterMarcus Renfield covers cryptocurrency markets with a focus on onchain data, Bitcoin price action, and emerging market narratives. His writing examines how capital flows, network activity, and broader market structure influence short- and medium-term trends.He aims to provide clear, data-informed analysis for readers seeking a deeper understanding of crypto market dynamics.