Shiba Inu-Themed Meme Coin WIF Creates Tensions in Solana Ecosystem
Known for adorable memes, its own cutesy language, and massive monuments to beloved pets, the multi-billion dollar ecosystem of Shiba Inu-themed meme coins is generally a place of cuddly cohabitation. But recent tensions between users in the Solana ecosystem—home to the exploding Dogwifhat (WIF) meme coin—and owners of the real-life South Korean dog who inspired the token may have created some trouble in pet paradise.
Auctioning an NFT of the Original Dogwifhat Photo
On Thursday, a South Korean Instagram user announced that the Shiba Inu featured in the “Dogwifhat” meme, named Achi, was in fact their pet. To celebrate the dog, they planned to auction an NFT of the original photo of Achi wearing a woven beanie. The user’s Instagram profile has consistently posted photos of a Shiba Inu in various woven clothing for the last five years, since the dog was a puppy. They also posted the famous “Dogwifhat” photo itself in December 2018—almost a full year before it went viral online.
The user has been verified as Achi’s true parent by partners of the Achi NFT auction.
Complaints About Partnering with Feisty DAO
Several members of the WIF community and other Solana users expressed their disappointment when they learned that Achi’s parents had partnered with Feisty DAO for the NFT auction. They believed that partnering with the WIF team on Solana would have been more appropriate.
The new Achi NFT will be minted as an Ethereum NFT and is currently up for auction on the Ethereum NFT platform Foundation. The auction ends on Monday, with a current bid of 50 ETH, or over $182,000.
Achi’s owners pleaded for the barrage of complaints to stop and asked for support instead.
Previous Attempt to Work with Solana Users
Achi’s owners previously attempted to work with Solana users but had a bad experience. They partnered with Feisty DAO, which had successfully launched several NFT sales in the past, to avoid any further issues.
The WIF community had never reached out to Achi’s parents until recently, despite the token’s multi-billion dollar valuation.
Interest from the Solana Community
If there is interest from the Solana community in buying the Achi NFT, Feisty DAO would consider re-minting it on Solana for the auction winners. However, Path, a Feisty DAO member coordinating the NFT auction, has only heard from Ansem, a prominent member of the WIF community, who was not interested in purchasing the NFT.
Hot Take: Achi’s Owners Deserve Recognition
Mihir, a member of the WIF community who coordinated a raise of almost $700,000 to feature Achi’s face on Sphere, believes that Achi’s owners are owed something from WIF’s success. While WIF’s market capitalization exceeds $3 billion, Achi’s parents’ NFT currently has a bid worth about $182,000.
The tensions between Shiba Inu-themed meme coin WIF and Achi’s owners highlight the complexities of navigating ownership and recognition in the crypto world. It serves as a reminder that behind every meme or token is a real-life individual or pet who may deserve acknowledgment for their contribution.
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