Known for adorable memes, its own cutesy language, and massive monuments to beloved pets, the multi-billion dollar ecosystem of Shiba Inu-themed meme coins is generally a place of cuddly cohabitation.
However, recent tensions have arisen between users in the Solana ecosystem, home to the flourishing Dogwifhat (WIF) meme coin, and owners of the real-life South Korean dog who inspired the token. This conflict has created some trouble in pet paradise.
On Thursday, a South Korean Instagram user revealed that the Shiba Inu featured in the “Dogwifhat” meme, named Achi, is their pet. To celebrate Achi, they plan to auction an NFT of the original iconic photo of Achi wearing a woven beanie, which they knitted for the dog.
The user’s Instagram profile has consistently showcased Achi in various woven clothing for the past five years, posting the famous “Dogwifhat” photo in December 2018, nearly a year before it went viral online. Partners of the Achi NFT auction verified the user as Achi’s true parent.
Despite this, some members of the WIF community and other Solana users expressed discontent over the decision to partner with Feisty DAO for the Achi NFT auction on the Ethereum blockchain. The auction is currently ongoing on Foundation, with a current bid of 50 ETH, equivalent to over $182,000.
Following complaints and challenges from the Solana community for not coordinating the NFT launch with the meme coin community, Achi’s parents explained that they had previously faced a rug-pull incident when collaborating with the WIF team. This negative experience led them to partner with Feisty DAO for the NFT auction.
Mihir, a member of the WIF community, acknowledged the importance of recognizing Achi’s owners for their contribution to WIF’s success. Despite WIF’s market capitalization exceeding $3 billion, Achi’s parents’ NFT bid remains around $182,000.
Path from Feisty DAO, coordinating the NFT photo auction, expressed willingness to remint the NFT on Solana if there is interest from the Solana community. Although Ansem from the WIF community was contacted about purchasing the Achi NFT, no further interactions have occurred as of now.
In conclusion, the Achi NFT saga highlights the complexities and challenges within the meme coin and NFT landscape, emphasizing the need for respectful collaboration and communication between crypto communities and pet owners.
