The name Nofx has recently sparked quite a discussion among developers—not because it is amazing, but because its story is too magical.

In two months, this open-source AI trading project has garnered nearly 9,000 stars on GitHub. Sounds great, but what happened next is enough to raise alarms for everyone wanting to contribute to open source.

**The Hidden Dangers Behind Overnight Fame**

The rapid growth of the project should be good news. However, what followed was a series of problems. The first to be exposed was a security vulnerability - this kind of AI trading tool involves real money, and everyone knows what a security vulnerability means. During the disclosure process, the attitude and speed of the project team in responding also sparked discussions.

**Internal Storm Approaches**

What’s even more heartbreaking are the internal issues within the team. Equity disputes are common in startup projects, but when exposed in the open-source community, it turns into a crisis of trust. Community members watch helplessly as the conflicts between the founders escalate, the project's direction becomes unclear, and the maintainers’ attitudes begin to waver. This kind of internal strife can be more damaging to a rapidly growing project than technical issues.

**The Door of Open Source License**

Next comes the controversy over open source licenses. Which license to use, how to utilize the code, and where the boundaries for commercialization lie—these issues that seem legal in nature actually reflect the conflicts in the core values of the project. If this issue is not handled properly, the community will split, and contributors will drift away.

**Inspiration for Open Source Projects**

Nofx's experience is not an isolated case. In the rapidly iterating field of Web3, projects can easily become popular, but there are not many that can maintain their footing. Security audits, governance frameworks, and clear protocol choices—these seemingly insignificant things determine how far a project can go.

Especially for open-source projects involving sensitive applications such as funds and transactions, it is essential to establish a sound risk management system early on. Otherwise, once a problem arises, it is not just a code issue, but a collapse of trust within the entire community.