What must be lost to win the future? A deep look into Metaplex's survival logic and growth bets
The Metaplex project is quite interesting. It was originally born in Solana Labs' incubation room, positioned as an NFT standard protocol. Later, its ambitions expanded to cover protocol layers for all tokens. The founding team includes someone named Hess, who was previously the product lead at Solana Labs. Since fall 2021, the project has been operating independently, no longer just an affiliate of the parent company.
The story over these years is quite typical. The Solana ecosystem has gone from a bull market peak to the present, and Metaplex, as a key infrastructure provider within the ecosystem, has experienced the same cycle. How to understand its current situation? On one hand, it has accumulated enough on-chain data and ecological foundation. On the other hand, market enthusiasm for NFTs has cooled down long ago, and resources and attention are limited.
The key question is: in this forced and unavoidable shift, can Metaplex find new growth points? Can this move from evolving NFT standards to broader token infrastructure be executed steadily? These are the real challenges it will face next.
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FunGibleTom
· 5h ago
NFT has been out of the spotlight for so long, and now they want to turn things around through transformation. It's not an easy task.
Honestly, from dedicated funds to a comprehensive approach, can this path work?
Isn't this how the Solana ecosystem infrastructure operates? Once the hype passes, self-rescue becomes necessary.
Betting on token infrastructure feels a bit rushed.
From incubation to independence and then shifting focus, the story of Metaplex is a microcosm of the Solana ecosystem.
This kind of passive shift tests the team's execution ability the most. I find it quite challenging.
Wait, do they really have the confidence to win the competition at the token layer?
In a bull market, infrastructure builders, but in a bear market, they have to perform magic. Pity.
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GweiWatcher
· 12-27 20:51
NFT has been out of favor for so long, and Metaplex still wants to turn things around... it's tough.
The key is whether they can stabilize the token infrastructure; otherwise, it's just switching tracks to keep getting beaten.
From incubation to independence sounds smooth, but in a bear market, taking a wrong step could easily lead to a fall.
This round of shift feels like a forced compromise; how many resources can really be secured is truly a question.
The fate of relying on a single ecosystem—let's see if they can break through this ceiling.
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MidsommarWallet
· 12-27 20:51
NFTs have survived until now, which shows there is some real foundation... Now it's just a matter of whether they can truly turn things around.
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orphaned_block
· 12-27 20:50
NFT is really over this time, and being able to survive until now with Metaplex is quite impressive.
The move to infrastructure for token transfer feels like being forced onto the front lines... but maybe the opportunity is right here.
If this guy can pull it off, he might actually be the real winner.
Honestly, it all depends on who can turn around faster. If Metaplex's move is a quiet, strategic play...
The Solana ecosystem is uncomfortable for everyone, not just Mplex.
Losing NFT popularity and switching to a new track—whether this deal is worth it is really hard to say.
The infrastructure is solid, but whether the market will give enough opportunities is the question.
The stakes are high, going all-in on a new direction carries quite a risk.
From being incubated to becoming independent and then shifting focus, this story is indeed a bit intense.
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BlockchainBouncer
· 12-27 20:47
NFT has been struggling for so many years and is still holding on; shifting to token infrastructure is probably just a last resort.
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SignatureCollector
· 12-27 20:39
Metaplex's move is actually a forced "sacrifice the rook to save the king"; when NFTs cool down, they shift to the token layer. Honestly, they are still looking for a way out.
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From incubating projects to independent operation, it sounds impressive, but in reality, they are just being pushed out to fend for themselves, hh.
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I think the key is whether they can establish a foothold in the Solana ecosystem; otherwise, no matter how much they shift, it's just a futile effort.
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The infrastructure providers are most afraid of the ecosystem losing heat. Metaplex's current situation is indeed a bit awkward; when there's no hype, no one pays attention to you.
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The transition from NFT to token infrastructure, to be honest, the probability of success is not very high. Betting big could easily backfire.
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That guy Hess used to hang out at Labs; at least he understands Solana's routines. But the shift isn't a technical issue; it's whether the ecosystem can accept it.
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LiquidityLarry
· 12-27 20:35
The NFT wave has already cooled down. Metaplex has survived until now solely thanks to the Solana ecosystem. Is it shifting towards token infrastructure? Honestly, it's still a matter of grabbing whatever is available.
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GasWaster
· 12-27 20:32
NFT has been out of the spotlight for too long. The key is whether the move by Metaplex to the token protocol can succeed.
What must be lost to win the future? A deep look into Metaplex's survival logic and growth bets
The Metaplex project is quite interesting. It was originally born in Solana Labs' incubation room, positioned as an NFT standard protocol. Later, its ambitions expanded to cover protocol layers for all tokens. The founding team includes someone named Hess, who was previously the product lead at Solana Labs. Since fall 2021, the project has been operating independently, no longer just an affiliate of the parent company.
The story over these years is quite typical. The Solana ecosystem has gone from a bull market peak to the present, and Metaplex, as a key infrastructure provider within the ecosystem, has experienced the same cycle. How to understand its current situation? On one hand, it has accumulated enough on-chain data and ecological foundation. On the other hand, market enthusiasm for NFTs has cooled down long ago, and resources and attention are limited.
The key question is: in this forced and unavoidable shift, can Metaplex find new growth points? Can this move from evolving NFT standards to broader token infrastructure be executed steadily? These are the real challenges it will face next.