Friend.tech (FRE) Token Drops 20% Following Co-Founder’s Departure Tease from Base

<ul>
  <li>The native token of Web3 social network Friend.tech, known as FRIEND, has experienced a significant drop in value.</li>
  <li>This decline came after one of the protocol’s co-founders, Racer, expressed intentions to part ways with Base, the Ethereum Layer-2 network developed by Coinbase that hosts the project.</li>
  <li>“System design bounty: If you can figure out a way to migrate friendtech off of Base without causing major issues for users, and it works well enough that we decide to use it, we will pay you $200K,” Racer said in a post on X.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Friend.tech token plummets over 20% as co-founder hints at departure from Base, sparking concerns among investors.</strong></p>
<h2><strong>Friend.tech Relationship With Base Has Been Tumultuous</strong></h2>
<p>According to Racer, the relationship between the Friend.tech team and Base has been tumultuous. In another post, Racer mentioned that Farcaster investors had misconstrued their project upon its launch, resulting in a strained relationship with the Base community. The team felt ostracized and disconnected from certain parts of the Base and Ethereum ecosystems. Jesse Pollak, the head of Base at Coinbase, responded to the situation with a message of understanding. In a post, Pollak acknowledged that the Friend.tech team had experienced feelings of isolation and disconnection and expressed his support for whatever path they choose.</p>
<h3><strong>Pollak's Response</strong></h3>
<p>“I’ll be sad if the team decides to leave Base, but I also respect and will support whatever path – that’s the beauty of the decentralized, onchain, economy,” Pollak wrote. Following Racer’s statements, the value of the Friend.tech token plummeted by approximately 20%.</p>
<h2><strong>Friend.tech’s Popularity Sees Uptick After Decline</strong></h2>
<p>Friend.tech, launched on August 10, 2023, has become one of the top decentralized applications (dApps) on the Base layer, attracting over 200,000 users and facilitating a trading volume exceeding $230 million. The platform uniquely converts user influence into tradable tokens known as “keys,” allowing users to gain access to a creator’s attention or influence. The model has attracted not only cryptocurrency influencers but also NBA players and esports personalities, broadening its appeal beyond the crypto space.</p>
<h3><strong>Factors Contributing to Popularity</strong></h3>
<p>One significant factor contributing to Friend.tech’s popularity was the hype surrounding the Base network, a Layer 2 solution associated with Coinbase. The involvement of Paradigm, an investment firm connected to Coinbase, further increased confidence in Friend.tech’s potential. However, the platform has also faced privacy concerns, particularly regarding the potential for user doxxing due to the link between Twitter profiles and Ethereum addresses. Friend.tech has addressed these concerns by clarifying that the information deemed leaked was actually from their public API, showcasing the platform’s open nature while also highlighting the importance of user caution in protecting personal information.</p>
<h3><strong>Revenue Insights</strong></h3>
<p>Nevertheless, Friend.tech has seen an uptick in popularity as of late. According to a Dune analytics dashboard, the project raked in more than $500,000 in revenue on May 3. This came as its revenue had recently fallen to under $20,000 over the past couple of months.</p>
<h3><strong>Conclusion</strong></h3>
<p>The recent developments surrounding Friend.tech highlight the volatile nature of the crypto space. While the departure of a co-founder and the subsequent token drop may raise concerns, the platform's innovative model and growing user base suggest potential for recovery and growth. Investors and users alike should stay informed and cautious as the situation evolves.</p>