Starkware Faces Ethical Questions Over STRK Token Airdrop
After revealing details about its upcoming STRK token airdrop, Starkware has faced criticism for allowing investors and contributors to sell off their massive STRK positions just two months after the launch. Typically, airdrop allocations are locked for a longer period to ensure the team’s commitment to the project and prevent price volatility. However, Starkware’s CEO defends the company’s decision, stating that they view things differently and have already proven their trustworthiness to users.
Deviation from Standard Practice Raises Concerns
The Starknet airdrop’s departure from industry norms has led some crypto users to criticize the rapid offloading of tradable tokens to insiders as “predatory” and “borderline criminal.” However, Eli Ben-Sasson, Starkware’s CEO, believes that longer token lock periods do not guarantee trustworthiness and that Starkware is fully committed to advancing Starknet.
Commitment to Advancing Starknet
Ben-Sasson assures the community that Starkware’s team will continue working passionately on Starknet in the long term. He emphasizes his personal commitment and states that delaying the token lock period would not prevent potential dumping scenarios. The CEO believes that rewarding investors and contributors for their contributions is important and trusts that his team will not take improper advantage of the airdrop structure.
Hot Take: Striking a Balance Between Trust and Rewards
Starkware’s decision to allow early investors and contributors to sell off their STRK tokens shortly after launch has sparked ethical concerns. While longer lock periods are common practice in the industry, Starkware defends its approach by highlighting its trustworthiness and commitment to advancing Starknet. The company believes that rewarding contributors is crucial and sees no risk in their team taking advantage of the airdrop structure. Striking a balance between trust and rewarding those who contribute to a project’s success remains a challenge in the crypto space.