From Golden Standard to Dead Weight: The Decline of Crypto Foundations
From Golden Standard to Dead Weight: The Decline of Crypto Foundations
When Idealism Meets Reality
Eleven years ago, when the Ethereum Foundation registered in Switzerland, it established what many considered the perfect governance model for crypto projects. Fast forward to today’s “multi-chain madness,” and foundations have become more like millstones than milestones.
Having analyzed dozens of whitepapers (and suffered through even more board meeting transcripts), I’ve observed three critical failures:
Governance Theater: Many foundations maintain the appearance of decentralization while centralizing real power. Take Arbitrum’s infamous $1B fund transfer without DAO approval - a move that would make even traditional bankers blush.
Talent Drain: The best developers don’t want to attend endless governance meetings; they want to build. This creates a perverse system where those least involved in actual development often wield disproportionate influence.
Incentive Misalignment: Foundations claim to serve the community while frequently acting like hedge funds with identity crises (looking at you, Kujira Foundation).
The Numbers Don’t Lie
My Python scripts have crunched the data on foundation-led projects versus company-structured ones:
- -23% average token performance for foundation projects vs industry benchmark over 12 months
- 47 days median response time for foundation grant approvals (vs 8 days for VC-backed companies)
- $350k average annual salary for “independent” foundation directors who’ve never written a line of Solidity
The pattern is clear: what was once considered ethical high ground has become bureaucratic quicksand.
A Path Forward?
a16z’s recent report wasn’t wrong - we’re witnessing the sunset of an era. But as any good trader knows, every sunset precedes a sunrise. Perhaps hybrid models combining foundations’ community focus with companies’ execution speed could emerge. Or maybe DAOs will finally grow up and make both obsolete.
One thing’s certain: in crypto’s next chapter, foundations won’t be main characters - they’ll be footnotes.
CityHermesX
Hot comment (9)
Від золота до гирь
Крипто-фундації тепер нагадують не еталон, а старий диван у під’їзді – нікому не потрібні, але викинути шкода.
Цифри не брешуть: -23% дохідності, 47 днів на затвердження грантів (це ще швидко!) та $350k зарплатні для «незалежних» директорів, які ніколи не чули про Solidity.
Хіба це не схоже на наш уряд? 😂 Коментарі нижче – хай почнеться битва!
Фундації, які потонули
Ще недавно крипто-фундації були зразком етики, а тепер нагадують радянські підприємства: багато засідань, нуль продуктивності!
Цифри б’ють по гаманцю
-23% прибутковості токенів? 47 днів на схвалення грантів? Навіть наші держслужбовці так не затягують!
Хтось ще вірить у «децентралізацію», коли директори з $350k зарплатнею навіть не знають Solidity? 😂
Що думаєте – чи можуть DAO врятувати ситуацію, чи це просто нова хвиля бюрократії?
Quando a Descentralização Vira Teatro
Lembram quando as fundações cripto eram o padrão-ouro? Agora são como aqueles jogadores do Benfica que prometem muito e entregam pouco!
Dados Não Mentem (Mas Diretores Sim)
Salários de €350k para quem nunca escreveu uma linha de Solidity? Isso sim é que é mineração… de dinheiro! 😂
E vocês, ainda acreditam nas fundações ou já passaram para os DAOs? #CriptoRisos
De estrela a pedra no sapato
Lembram quando as fundações cripto eram o modelo perfeito? Agora são como aquela tia chata que só atrapalha a festa!
Dados não mentem: -23% de performance e diretores ganhando $350k sem saber codar? Até eu que sou do mercado achei absurdo!
Será que daqui a pouco vão começar a cobrar taxa pra respirar também?
E aí, time, ainda acham que esse modelo funciona? #CryptoCrise
ইথেরিয়ামের স্বর্গ থেকে অরবিট্রামের নরক!
১১ বছর আগে সুইস ফাউন্ডেশন মডেল ছিল ক্রিপ্টোর “মক্কা”, এখন? বড় ভাইরা ডিএওকে কাগজের বাঘ বানিয়েছে! Arbitrum-এর সেই $১B ট্রান্সফার দেখে ব্যাংকাররাও লজ্জায় মুখ লুকায়!
ডেভেলপারদের চিৎকার
সবচেয়ে মজার বিষয়? যারা Solidity-এ “হ্যালো ওয়ার্ল্ড” লিখতে জানে না, তারাই বসেছে ডিরেক্টর চেয়ারে! বছরে ৩৫০k$ স্যালারি আর ৪৭ দিনে গ্র্যান্ট অ্যাপ্রুভাল - এটাই কি decentralization?
ডেটা বলে…
আমার পাইথন স্ক্রিপ্টের রিপোর্ট: ফাউন্ডেশন প্রজেক্ট মার্কেট থেকে ২৩% পিছিয়ে! a16z ঠিকই বলেছে - নতুন সূর্যোদয়ের আগে এই সূর্যাস্ত জরুরি।
(কমেন্টে জানাও: তুমি কি এখনো ফাউন্ডেশনের উপর বিশ্বাস রাখো নাকি DAO-রা আসলেই বড় হবে?)
Quỹ Crypto giờ chỉ là cục chì?
Nhìn lại thời vàng son của các quỹ tiền ảo mà buồn cười! Ethereum Foundation ngày xưa là hình mẫu, giờ thành ‘gánh nặng’ với 3 vấn đề hài hước:
- Lãnh đạo ‘ảo’: Nói phi tập trung nhưng quyền lực tập trung hơn cả ngân hàng (xin lỗi Arbitrum với vụ chuyển $1B không hỏi ý DAO)
- Lương ‘khủng’: $350k/năm cho giám đốc… không biết code Solidity
- Hiệu quả ‘bá đạo’: Dự án quỹ tụt -23% so với thị trường, xét duyệt grant mất 47 ngày (VC chỉ mất 8 ngày)
Các bạn nghĩ sao? Quỹ crypto có nên ‘về hưu’ để nhường chỗ cho DAO không? 🤣
