Amidst rumors of a swift “rug pull” and accusations flying, the team behind the NFT collection Friendsies has denied claims that they are walking away from the project. On February 21st, Friendsies took to Twitter to announce a pause on their NFTs and all future digital goods due to market difficulties. Minutes later, both accounts were removed, which caused alarm for many investors. However, the developer said that this is not an indication of malice or theft but rather uncertainty within the market.
Project Managers Underline That They Are Not Going to Abandon The Project
In response to the uproar of their initial announcement, Friendsies‘ Twitter account has been reactivated, and its founders strongly deny that they are “abandoning” the project. Although it’s still private, one thing is certain – they aren’t leaving anytime soon.
“We acknowledge that our message was not conveyed in an ideal manner,” said the founders, “but what we meant by pausing social engagement ‘until further notice’ is quite clear: We’re sincerely invested in this project and have no intention of quitting.”
Friendsies, a collective of 10,000 Ethereum-based NFTs that launched last March, promised to bestow upon their owners’ personalized digital companions for use in the metaverse and even real-life experiences. The team clarified their ongoing commitment towards building these assets by noting: “That was not intended to mean we are pausing building and seeking opportunities, those efforts remain ongoing.” In the future, Friendsies will also have a play-to-earn game similar to Tomogatchi.
“Market Volatility and Challenges Make Progressing the Project Difficult”
As of right now, there are 3,323 proud owners of Friendsies’ Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). OpenSea data states that the minimum cost to purchase one is 0.012 Ether (roughly $20), and its trading volume has risen up to a whopping 3,775 ETH! Although in their initial announcement, it was stated that “the volatility and uncertainties from fluctuating market conditions have made it difficult for this project to progress smoothly,” Friendsies remains as determined and motivated as ever towards success.
About 17 hours after the initial announcement of a project pause, its founders confessed to being inundated with hate-filled vitriol and menacing threats. They expressed regret for not delivering better communication but reassured everyone that they are here to stay: “We were overwhelmed with hate and threats & both our Twitter and website were attacked […] We are sorry if we let you down today with our communication, but we are not going anywhere.”
Mastercard’s Former NFT Lead Says He Might Take Over Project
Satvik Sethi, Mastercard’s former NFT product lead, who resigned earlier this month with a bang, has proposed to take over the Friendsies NFT project. He announced that he would like to “install a new team and move forward with an alternate vision.” Further adding on, he said, “If you genuinely care for your stakeholders, as you’ve stated before in all of the commotions, don’t leave them hanging there after putting in their trust. Reach out to me so we can discuss it further.”
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