Damn, the narrative around base is pretty wild rn. but it's impossible to disagree.
For whatever reason, there's an *intentional* disconnect between base and its users.
A lot of people will vouch for base taking feedback, but I've not actually seen this in practice, ever.
This is the cycle: base PUMPS a campaign. Virality, creators, traders, builders, apps, content, trenches. Whatever.
The entire team pumps it. The multiple brand accounts pump it. But that's all it amounts to: a campaign.
Everyone gets excited, sees a lack of action, then starts to complain. The noise gets louder, then louder, then louder, then eventually base says "we hear you," and pivots to the next message.
Meanwhile, CB makes an acquisition, launches something that cannibalizes something downstream, and reveals some broader strategy that doesn't seem to include base.
Pretty much every user type has been "rugged" at this point. Trust and brand equity erode.
But base is seemingly invincible, and continues to repeat the cycle. For users, the only competitive option for all these use cases is solana. Base is lucky that solana has a reputation and lack of *actually* competitive projects. And yet, the liquidity stays on sol, and memecoins alone keep it relevant.
It's notable that base's mode of operation is exceedingly centralized; a stark contrast to the chain it lives on. It's not just that it's a corpo, it's the relationship to users.
Will a lack of competition keep base in pole position? I don't think so. No brand has unlimited trust, and when it runs out, even if ways change, customer loyalty is nearly impossible to rebuild.
Normally I alienate myself from powerhouses, but in criticizing appcoins I have potentially done worse.
Hang with me; the essay will offer a different way of thinking about tokens and you'll understand why I say the prefix is a limiter.
I'm on your side lol
odd insight. writing seems to come more naturally first thing and last thing. i get trapped in bed writing on social media, sure, but i realized i can channel that into writing drafts.
Several rants lately on CuLtUre and opportunistic leaders.
Surprised it didn't come to me earlier after reading the Facebook book, but the word that sums it up is "careless."
Carelessness is so dangerous precisely because it's unintentional. You can't gauge it on a purity test, but it's pervasive, insidious.
We see it widespread across tech, but we should expect better in crypto. Technology is base neutral, but crypto was uniquely founded upon values and a vision for a better internet.
When leaders use those values carelessly, over and over, without acting on them, we should recognize it. The cost is great.
Of personal concern is the notion of "a new creator economy." This vision has been sold haphazardly to the detriment of those it was alleged to help.
Alrighty I think I used up my rant meter for the week. Maybe I'll share some arts and softwares. Go Rams.
the category of content that is miffing me the most rn: useful-but-optimized.
knowledge wrapped in noise for the sake of appeasing platform specs.
this content is plenty, and my urge is to create systems that can summarize, reformat, apply. for all the time saved, an equal amount of time is wasted.
Why am I obsessed with the weirdest niches when it comes to my own creativity?
In digital art: metadata, aspect ratios, philosophy...now building software my lens is menu design?!
Something about opportunity.
My social media responsiveness is extremely high. It often makes me feel silly bc I don't get that same level of responsiveness back.
While the process of writing is always productive, doing so on socials is not evergreen. No archive of that thinking.
But if I scrape that data? What an interesting idea
Alright, I'll kill some social credit because the moment is right.
I'm seeing a whole lot of VC types talking about farcaster, mostly on x, and how great the team is, glad to be part of the journey, etc.
Not one ever used Farcaster with any level of consistency.
This is loaded and we should talk about this.
Glad everyone is excited, but now it's time to maximize one of the few truly builder-centric social moments we'll ever get.
The memecoin meta burned us out on tokens. The alleged trader meta continues to exhaust and limit.
Let your imagination run, create, vibe code, then consider the role of tokens, fungible and nonfungible alike.
We have so many tools, and an opportunity to build new distribution channels and experiences on a protocol with the right incentives supporting it.
i have broken free of cursor and am officially multi-repository. also using claude code mobile more and more. seven hells of learning curves but damn, if the climb isn't rewarding
Farcaster news is bullish.
When people don't care about what they build, it's bad for everyone involved.
Our space is 99% of this. Regardless of what happens to FC, I'm glad the ratio adjusts.
This is a long game.
