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Crypto Community Reacts to Buzzfeed “Doxxing” BAYC Founders

By:
Oluwapelumi Adejumo
Updated: Feb 7, 2022, 14:54 UTC

Members of the crypto community have reacted angrily to what they call the "doxxing" of the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) founders.

Crypto Community Reacts to Buzzfeed “Doxxing” BAYC Founders

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Sequel to the Buzzfeed article disclosing the identity of two Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) creators, many in the crypto community have criticised the media platform for its actions. 

On February 4, Buzzfeed published an article by Kate Notopoulos titled, “We Found The Real Names Of Bored Ape Yacht Club’s Pseudonymous Founders.” The report revealed that BAYC founders, who used the pseudonyms “Gordon Goner” and “Gargamel,” were Greg Solano and Wylie Aronow.

Community Questions BAYC Founders “Doxxing” Motive

Since publishing the article, members of the crypto community on Twitter have criticized Buzzfeed and Notopoulos. Many in the community called the identity reveal doxxing, stating that it isn’t in line with journalistic standards.

The two founders whose identities were revealed have also posted their pictures on Twitter along with the Bored Ape avatar.

Several prominent crypto personalities appear to be against doxxing. Ryan Selkis, the founder of Messari, posted a link to an old tweet of Notopoulos where she used a homophobic slur.

Crypto podcaster Cobie described the article as typical trash to get clicks and revenue.

 

Buzzfeed, Notopoulos Unbothered

However, Notopoulos remains unbothered by the backlash. In the article, she questioned the decision of the BAYC founders to stay anonymous while comparing the pseudonymous practice of founders in the crypto space with the standards of the traditional business world. 

She pointed out that given the worth of BAYC, holding the founders accountable is impossible without an identity. According to her, knowing the founders’ identity might help collectors decide whether to buy an NFT.

But some in the community have also questioned her motives. For example, a Twitter user asked what public interest the doxxing serves given that there are no red flags about the founders.

This backlash further brings up the discussion on anonymity and publicity within the NFT scene. Being anonymous and using pseudonyms has become a standard in the NFT and crypto scene. 

As Yuga Labs, the company behind BAYC, is estimated to be worth $5 billion, the question remains where to draw the line.

As of press time, Bored Ape NFTs had a floor price of 100 ETH.

About the Author

Oluwapelumi is a firm believer in the transformative power power Bitcoin and Blockchain industry holds. He is interested in sharing knowledge and ideas about how the industry could play a pivotal role in the emerging financial system. When he is not writing, he is looking to meet new people and trying out new things.

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