Doodles. What happened to them being the blue-chip NFT, the don’t-sell-’em-they’re-too-hot of the town. Collaborations with McDonald’s, Pharrell, Adidas – they were all but unbeatable. Then came DOOD. And that splash wasn’t a celebratory cannonball, but rather the pop of a depressed helium balloon.
It's a stark reminder: even projects with brand recognition can stumble when they stray from the core tenets of decentralization. Lindiwe is a strong champion of decentralized innovation. She’s quick to stress that it’s not just about the technology, but rather how to leverage the technology to build community and promote transparency. The DOOD launch was neither, and the ensuing price collapse ought to be a wake-up call. We need to talk about accountability.
Token Distribution Lacked True Fairness?
68%. That’s the percent of DOOD tokens they claim are allocated to the “community”. Sounds generous, right? Was it really equitable, or just equitable-seeming? Airdrops come off as equitable at first glance. They too frequently only serve to benefit the whales already established in the ecosystem, allowing them to weather the first sell-off and dictate market direction.
Is giving everyone in a classroom the same amount of study material truly fair if some students already have a head start? Shouldn’t people who require greater assistance receive greater funding, rather than the same amount?
The DOOD distribution smelled of the latter. That first wave of Doodles NFT sales recorded a historic 97% jump, topping $1.1 million. Then that market cap fell quickly from $100+ million down to $60 million, showing this kind of hype isn’t here to last. Given that, it should come as no surprise that Airdrop recipients are cashing out. With no barriers to entry and no compelling reason to hold, this result is entirely predictable.
Imagine if Doodles had gone all-in on a more progressive distribution model. Perhaps staking requirements, or time-locked rewards? Perhaps even ceding some of that to a battle-tested DAO-controlled fund for community-driven improvements? These are not revolutionary concepts, but they are concepts based on true decentralization.
Where Was Community Governance Input?
Picture this— you’re constructing the ultimate dream house and you never bother to consult the desired occupants about their preferences. No voice in the design, the services offered, the aesthetic—what kind of art is on the wall, or the wall’s color. That's essentially what Doodles did with DOOD.
The token deploy to Solana was especially confusing for many in the Ethereum Doodles ecosystem. Why should we require users to open new wallets, bridge assets and walk through all kinds of new processes? Where was the community consultation?
This isn’t merely a matter of preference, it’s a matter of inclusion. Decentralization isn’t just a catchphrase — it’s the radical promise of broad democratic ownership and control over our economy. The lack of a DAO, or any real governance plan, for DOOD is an incredible red flag.
Look at it this way: If the Titanic had been a DAO, would it have sailed without enough lifeboats? Probably not. The stakeholders (the now much-belated community members) would have been given a voice.
Doodles missed an opportunity to build a truly decentralized ecosystem, one where DOOD holders could actively shape the token's future and contribute to its value. The Binance listing might offer Solana’s developers a lifeline, but it’s still a band-aid on a much-deeper wound.
DOOD's Utility: Memecoin or More?
Let’s admit that after the novelty wore off, DOOD was a little…underwhelming. A memecoin dressed up in Doodle's clothing. Though memecoins can serve an important role, they are built on hype and speculation—not on long-term value.
The token’s demise can be primarily attributed to the fact that there was simply no clear use case outside of trading and speculation. Why should anyone hold DOOD? What tangible benefits did it offer?
Doodles teases deeper integration down the line into the Base blockchain, gamification, governance, and rewards for artistic contribution. Those are promises, not realities. Instead of taking bets on red or black, they’re constructing a home on the shaky ground of “maybes.”
Consider this: Might DOOD be a mechanism for directly compensating the artists whose work enriches the Doodles universe? Maybe it could grant access to special events for NFT owners. Maybe it can even fuel a decentralized marketplace for Doodles merchandise.
Picture DOOD as a way to vote on future collaborations, or to help curate a community art show. That's utility. That's value. And that's what the Doodles community deserves.
The DOOD debacle is not the apocalypse on the horizon. Pudgy Penguins’ PENGU token had an awkward debut, but this NFT-related token regained its footing. The Official TRUMP memecoin is an example of how branding can divert attention away from intent. Hope remains.
Doodles needs to earn that rebound. It needs to embrace the core principles of decentralization: transparency, community involvement, and a compelling value proposition.
Demand accountability. Demand transparency. Demand that Doodles return to the values that made them popular and successful in the first place. The future of Doodles, and the vibrant, creative, changemaking future of the whole crypto space—most critically—is hanging in the balance. Don’t make this DOOD debacle failure the unwritten conclusion.
